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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. Did you ________________ the button?
  2. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  3. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  4. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  5. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  6. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  7. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  8. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  9. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  10. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  11. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  12. Have you settled on a ________________?
  13. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  14. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  15. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  16. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  17. That was ________________ to happen.
  18. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  19. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  20. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  21. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  22. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  23. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  24. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.

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

Answer key

  1. press — to push
  2. stick — to attach or keep to
  3. stick — a piece of wood
  4. ruler — for measuring
  5. bound — tied together
  6. stick — a piece of wood
  7. mine — for digging
  8. ruler — for measuring
  9. lean — to bend
  10. lean — thin
  11. ruler — a monarch
  12. date — on the calendar
  13. track — a song
  14. mine — an explosive
  15. date — the fruit
  16. lean — to rest against
  17. bound — certain
  18. press — newspapers
  19. track — to keep track
  20. bound — obliged
  21. date — on the calendar
  22. press — a publisher
  23. mine — belonging to me
  24. track — a path

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