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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. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  2. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  3. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  4. Did you ________________ the button?
  5. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  6. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  7. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  8. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  9. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  10. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  11. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  12. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  13. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  14. The ________________ took off on time.
  15. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  16. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  17. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  18. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  19. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  20. It's one o'clock ________________.
  21. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  22. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  23. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  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. can — a tin
  2. press — a publisher
  3. vault — an arched ceiling
  4. press — to push
  5. vault — a safe
  6. content — happy
  7. plane — in geometry
  8. face — part of the head
  9. can — to be able to
  10. can — a tin
  11. plane — a tool
  12. vault — in gymnastics
  13. rest — what's left
  14. plane — an aircraft
  15. rest — what's left
  16. content — videos and posts
  17. face — to point toward
  18. sharp — with an edge
  19. face — to confront
  20. sharp — exactly
  21. content — the amount
  22. sharp — clever
  23. rest — a break
  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