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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. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  2. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  3. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  4. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  5. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  6. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  7. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  8. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  9. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  10. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  11. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  12. Did you ________________ the button?
  13. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  14. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  15. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  16. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  17. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  18. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  19. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  20. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  21. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  22. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  23. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  24. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?

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

Answer key

  1. press — newspapers
  2. rock — a stone
  3. bowl — to roll
  4. fine — high quality
  5. bark — to shout
  6. rock — to move gently
  7. bass — low music
  8. wake — to stop sleeping
  9. lash — to lash out
  10. fine — all right
  11. bark — of a tree
  12. press — to push
  13. press — a publisher
  14. fine — a penalty
  15. bowl — a dish
  16. lash — an eyelash
  17. wake — a trail
  18. lash — a whip stroke
  19. bowl — a football final
  20. bass — the fish
  21. wake — before a funeral
  22. bass — the instrument
  23. bark — a dog's sound
  24. rock — music

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