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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. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  2. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  3. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  4. What do you think of the new ________________?
  5. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  6. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  7. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  8. Did you ________________ the button?
  9. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  10. How do you ________________ your surname?
  11. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  12. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  13. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  14. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  15. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  16. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  17. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  18. Have you met the new head ________________?
  19. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  20. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  21. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  22. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  23. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  24. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — a cupboard
  2. press — newspapers
  3. coach — pulled by horses
  4. cabinet — ministers
  5. bore — gave birth
  6. bowl — a football final
  7. fine — a penalty
  8. press — to push
  9. bore — to drill
  10. spell — letters
  11. cabinet — ministers
  12. spell — a short time
  13. trunk — of a car
  14. trunk — of an elephant
  15. bowl — a dish
  16. bowl — to roll
  17. bore — to tire
  18. coach — a trainer
  19. fine — all right
  20. press — a publisher
  21. coach — a trainer
  22. spell — magic
  23. trunk — of a tree
  24. fine — high quality

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