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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. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  2. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  3. He was locked up in a ________________.
  4. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  5. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  6. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  7. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  8. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  9. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  10. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  11. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  12. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  13. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  14. We're on a ________________ here.
  15. This piece is in a major ________________.
  16. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  17. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  18. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  19. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  20. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  21. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  22. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  23. Did you ________________ the button?
  24. Hard work is the ________________ to success.

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

Answer key

  1. cell — in biology
  2. press — a publisher
  3. cell — in a prison
  4. face — to confront
  5. toast — a drink to someone
  6. roll — a cake
  7. key — for a lock
  8. jam — in traffic
  9. cell — a phone
  10. jam — a tight spot
  11. press — newspapers
  12. toast — the most admired
  13. jam — to spread on bread
  14. roll — on a roll
  15. key — in music
  16. face — to point toward
  17. bank — for money
  18. toast — bread
  19. bank — for money
  20. roll — a list
  21. bank — of a river
  22. face — part of the head
  23. press — to push
  24. key — the most important part

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