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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 116 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. Beijing is the ________________ of China.
  2. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  3. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  4. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  5. Where did you ________________ them?
  6. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  7. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  8. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  9. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  10. A second agreement was made due to the large amount of available ________________.
  11. It's one o'clock ________________.
  12. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  13. The beginning of a sentence starts with a ________________ letter.
  14. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  15. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  16. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  17. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  18. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  19. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  20. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  21. Did you ________________ the button?
  22. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  23. The ________________ took off on time.
  24. The train ________________ at six o'clock.

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

Answer key

  1. capital — a city
  2. plane — in geometry
  3. mug — a cup
  4. rock — a stone
  5. mug — to rob
  6. rock — to move gently
  7. leaves — lets stay
  8. face — to confront
  9. press — newspapers
  10. capital — money
  11. sharp — exactly
  12. rock — music
  13. capital — a big letter
  14. mug — a face
  15. sharp — with an edge
  16. leaves — of a tree
  17. face — to point toward
  18. face — part of the head
  19. plane — a tool
  20. press — a publisher
  21. press — to push
  22. sharp — clever
  23. plane — an aircraft
  24. leaves — to go away

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