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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. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  2. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  3. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  4. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  5. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  6. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  7. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  8. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  9. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  10. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  11. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  12. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  13. Did you ________________ the button?
  14. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  15. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  16. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  17. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  18. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  19. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  20. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  21. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  22. That must've been a ________________.
  23. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  24. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.

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

Answer key

  1. squash — the sport
  2. mouse — the animal
  3. press — newspapers
  4. dip — to sink
  5. board — a flat piece
  6. squash — the vegetable
  7. dip — a sauce
  8. rush — to hurry
  9. fork — to eat with
  10. mouse — for a computer
  11. dip — to dunk
  12. fork — a garden tool
  13. press — to push
  14. bore — gave birth
  15. press — a publisher
  16. rush — hurry
  17. mouse — the animal
  18. bore — to tire
  19. board — a committee
  20. squash — to crush
  21. bore — to drill
  22. rush — a thrill
  23. board — to get on
  24. fork — in a road

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