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Multiple-Meaning Words

A multiple-meaning word is spelled and said the same way but means different things: a bat flies at night, and you hit a ball with a bat. Context is the only clue, which is why these words are such good reading practice.

Here are 124 multiple-meaning words from past ClueBy puzzles, each with a real example sentence for every meaning. Use them as a reference, or make a printable worksheet below.

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Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. The ________________ went through the wall.
  2. Don't do anything ________________.
  3. She's very handy with a ________________.
  4. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  5. Did you ________________ the button?
  6. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  7. When will it ________________ you to start?
  8. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  9. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  10. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  11. Have you met the new head ________________?
  12. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  13. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  14. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  15. He works in a ________________ mill.
  16. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  17. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  18. When was this ________________ built?
  19. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  20. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  21. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  22. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  23. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  24. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com

Answer key

  1. nail — for a hammer
  2. rash — hasty
  3. saw — the tool
  4. temple — side of the head
  5. press — to push
  6. nail — for a hammer
  7. suit — to fit
  8. temple — a place of worship
  9. stem — to come from
  10. coach — a trainer
  11. coach — a trainer
  12. stem — of a plant
  13. rash — a series
  14. rash — on the skin
  15. saw — the tool
  16. press — newspapers
  17. press — a publisher
  18. temple — a place of worship
  19. suit — in cards
  20. stem — a stem cell
  21. nail — on a finger
  22. saw — past of 'see'
  23. suit — clothes
  24. coach — pulled by horses

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

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Frequently asked questions

What are multiple-meaning words?

Words with the same spelling and pronunciation but more than one meaning, like bark (of a dog or of a tree) or bank (for money or of a river). You can only tell which meaning is meant from the rest of the sentence.

Are multiple-meaning words the same as homonyms?

Mostly, yes. Teachers often use "multiple-meaning words" and "homonyms" for the same idea. Homophones are different: they sound alike but are spelled differently, like flour and flower.

Are the worksheets free?

Yes. Make and print as many as you like for home or classroom use. Each sheet has its own link, so you can print the same one again.

Where do the words come from?

From past ClueBy puzzles, a daily game where you sort twelve sentences by their missing word. A new puzzle every day adds four more words to this list.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com