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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 116 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. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  2. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  3. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  4. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  5. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  6. Did you ________________ the button?
  7. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  8. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  9. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  10. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  11. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  12. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  13. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  14. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  15. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  16. Where did you ________________ them?
  17. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  18. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  19. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  20. The King held a masked ________________.
  21. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  22. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  23. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  24. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.

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

Answer key

  1. wave — a sudden rise
  2. mug — a face
  3. rock — a stone
  4. face — part of the head
  5. wave — with your hand
  6. press — to push
  7. mine — belonging to me
  8. face — to point toward
  9. face — to confront
  10. mine — an explosive
  11. vault — an arched ceiling
  12. vault — a safe
  13. ball — a round shape
  14. mine — for digging
  15. rock — music
  16. mug — to rob
  17. vault — in gymnastics
  18. mug — a cup
  19. wave — of the sea
  20. ball — a dance
  21. rock — to move gently
  22. ball — a great time
  23. press — a publisher
  24. press — newspapers

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