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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. The lid of the ________________ creaked open.
  2. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  3. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  4. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  5. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  6. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  7. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.
  8. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  9. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  10. Have you found your soul ________________?
  11. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  12. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  13. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  14. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  15. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  16. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  17. Did you ________________ the button?
  18. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  19. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  20. I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.
  21. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  22. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  23. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  24. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.

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

Answer key

  1. chest — a box
  2. press — newspapers
  3. safe — a strongbox
  4. mate — a friend
  5. fan — to cool the air
  6. toast — a drink to someone
  7. chest — of your body
  8. fan — a supporter
  9. toast — the most admired
  10. mate — a partner
  11. pitch — completely
  12. mate — to breed
  13. toast — bread
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. pitch — a sales talk
  16. press — a publisher
  17. press — to push
  18. band — a music group
  19. pitch — a sports field
  20. chest — of your body
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. band — a ring
  23. fan — a supporter
  24. band — a rubber band

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