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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. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  2. The ________________ took off on time.
  3. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  4. Did you ________________ the button?
  5. He is an ace ________________.
  6. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  7. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  8. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  9. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  10. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  11. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  12. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  13. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  14. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  15. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  16. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  17. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  18. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  19. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  20. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  21. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  22. That was ________________ to happen.
  23. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  24. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.

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

Answer key

  1. press — newspapers
  2. plane — an aircraft
  3. plane — a tool
  4. press — to push
  5. pitcher — in baseball
  6. net — in sport
  7. net — for catching
  8. stem — to come from
  9. plane — in geometry
  10. pitcher — a jug
  11. firm — steady
  12. net — after costs
  13. pitcher — a jug
  14. bound — tied together
  15. mouse — for a computer
  16. stem — of a plant
  17. press — a publisher
  18. bound — obliged
  19. stem — a stem cell
  20. firm — a company
  21. mouse — the animal
  22. bound — certain
  23. mouse — the animal
  24. firm — decided

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