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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. Did you ________________ the button?
  2. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  3. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  4. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  5. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  6. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  7. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  8. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  9. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  10. I'll be taking the ________________.
  11. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  12. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  13. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  14. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  15. Did you ________________ the meat?
  16. He is an ace ________________.
  17. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  18. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  19. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  20. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  21. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  22. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  23. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  24. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.

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

Answer key

  1. press — to push
  2. can — a tin
  3. patient — a sick person
  4. deal — a big deal
  5. pitcher — a jug
  6. can — a tin
  7. season — in sport
  8. tube — in a tire
  9. lie — an untruth
  10. tube — the underground
  11. lie — an untruth
  12. deal — an agreement
  13. press — a publisher
  14. press — newspapers
  15. season — to add flavour
  16. pitcher — in baseball
  17. pitcher — a jug
  18. deal — to handle
  19. patient — a sick person
  20. season — of the year
  21. lie — to recline
  22. tube — a container
  23. can — to be able to
  24. patient — calm and waiting

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