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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 function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  2. The ________________ went through the wall.
  3. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  4. Did you ________________ the button?
  5. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  6. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  7. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  8. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  9. What do you think of the new ________________?
  10. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  11. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  12. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  13. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  14. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  15. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  16. How do you ________________ your surname?
  17. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  18. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  19. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  20. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  21. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  22. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  23. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  24. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.

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

Answer key

  1. press — newspapers
  2. nail — for a hammer
  3. face — part of the head
  4. press — to push
  5. face — to point toward
  6. press — a publisher
  7. track — to keep track
  8. nail — for a hammer
  9. cabinet — ministers
  10. spell — a short time
  11. wave — of the sea
  12. mine — for digging
  13. track — a path
  14. mine — belonging to me
  15. mine — an explosive
  16. spell — letters
  17. face — to confront
  18. wave — a sudden rise
  19. cabinet — a cupboard
  20. spell — magic
  21. nail — on a finger
  22. cabinet — ministers
  23. wave — with your hand
  24. track — a song

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