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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. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  2. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  3. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  4. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  5. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  6. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  7. Did you ________________ the button?
  8. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  9. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  10. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  11. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  12. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  13. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  14. That must've been a ________________.
  15. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  16. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  17. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  18. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  19. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  20. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  21. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  22. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  23. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  24. You can't go backstage without a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. can — to be able to
  2. track — a path
  3. press — newspapers
  4. spring — the season
  5. board — a committee
  6. bore — gave birth
  7. press — to push
  8. track — a song
  9. bore — to tire
  10. rush — to hurry
  11. spring — a coil
  12. press — a publisher
  13. pass — to succeed
  14. rush — a thrill
  15. bore — to drill
  16. can — a tin
  17. track — to keep track
  18. can — a tin
  19. board — to get on
  20. pass — to spend time
  21. board — a flat piece
  22. rush — hurry
  23. spring — of water
  24. pass — a permit

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