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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. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  2. We're almost out of ________________.
  3. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  4. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  5. Did you ________________ the button?
  6. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  7. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  8. You don't need to ________________ round.
  9. What do you think of the new ________________?
  10. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  11. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  12. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  13. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  14. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  15. My father caught me by the ________________.
  16. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  17. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  18. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  19. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  20. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  21. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  22. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  23. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  24. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.

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

Answer key

  1. pop — music
  2. pop — soda
  3. cabinet — a cupboard
  4. arm — a part of something
  5. press — to push
  6. safe — a strongbox
  7. cabinet — ministers
  8. pop — to visit
  9. cabinet — ministers
  10. leaves — to go away
  11. leaves — of a tree
  12. leaves — lets stay
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. press — newspapers
  15. arm — part of the body
  16. field — for sport
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. lean — to rest against
  19. lean — thin
  20. field — a subject
  21. field — farmland
  22. arm — part of the body
  23. press — a publisher
  24. lean — to bend

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