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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. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  2. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  3. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  4. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  5. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  6. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  7. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  8. The ________________ went through the wall.
  9. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  10. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  11. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  12. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  13. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  14. When will it ________________ you to start?
  15. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  16. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  17. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  18. Did you ________________ the button?
  19. That must've been a ________________.
  20. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  21. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  22. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  23. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  24. I have a corn on my right ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. suit — in cards
  2. rush — hurry
  3. foot — a measure
  4. mouse — for a computer
  5. foot — the bottom
  6. nail — on a finger
  7. nail — for a hammer
  8. nail — for a hammer
  9. leaves — to go away
  10. stick — a piece of wood
  11. press — a publisher
  12. mouse — the animal
  13. leaves — of a tree
  14. suit — to fit
  15. mouse — the animal
  16. stick — a piece of wood
  17. suit — clothes
  18. press — to push
  19. rush — a thrill
  20. leaves — lets stay
  21. stick — to attach or keep to
  22. rush — to hurry
  23. press — newspapers
  24. foot — part of the body

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