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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 train ________________ at six o'clock.
  2. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  3. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  4. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  5. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  6. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  7. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  8. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  9. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  10. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  11. It's one o'clock ________________.
  12. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  13. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  14. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  15. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  16. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  17. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  18. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  19. Did you ________________ the button?
  20. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  21. He was locked up in a ________________.
  22. Did you ________________ the meat?
  23. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  24. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — to go away
  2. press — a publisher
  3. wake — a trail
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. press — newspapers
  6. sharp — clever
  7. wake — before a funeral
  8. leaves — lets stay
  9. season — of the year
  10. leaves — of a tree
  11. sharp — exactly
  12. cell — in biology
  13. wake — to stop sleeping
  14. season — in sport
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. cell — a phone
  17. sharp — with an edge
  18. safe — a strongbox
  19. press — to push
  20. dip — a sauce
  21. cell — in a prison
  22. season — to add flavour
  23. dip — to dunk
  24. dip — to sink

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