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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. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  2. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  3. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  4. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  5. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  6. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  7. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  8. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  9. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  10. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  11. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  12. She's very handy with a ________________.
  13. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  14. He works in a ________________ mill.
  15. Did you ________________ the button?
  16. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  17. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  18. The King held a masked ________________.
  19. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  20. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  21. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  22. I can't ________________ this cold.
  23. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  24. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.

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

Answer key

  1. bowl — a football final
  2. stand — on your feet
  3. bowl — a dish
  4. stand — for spectators
  5. press — newspapers
  6. pound — a weight
  7. pound — for dogs
  8. lie — an untruth
  9. bowl — to roll
  10. net — in sport
  11. pound — to hit hard
  12. saw — the tool
  13. lie — an untruth
  14. saw — the tool
  15. press — to push
  16. ball — a round shape
  17. lie — to recline
  18. ball — a dance
  19. net — after costs
  20. press — a publisher
  21. net — for catching
  22. stand — to bear
  23. ball — a great time
  24. saw — past of 'see'

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