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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. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  2. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  3. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  4. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  5. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  6. There's no middle ________________.
  7. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  8. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  9. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  10. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  11. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  12. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  13. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  14. The ________________ took off on time.
  15. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  16. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  17. Where did you ________________ them?
  18. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  19. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  20. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  21. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  22. Did you ________________ the button?
  23. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  24. Add some ________________ pepper to it.

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

Answer key

  1. cap — a lid
  2. ground — the earth
  3. press — newspapers
  4. cap — a hat
  5. mug — a cup
  6. ground — a position
  7. perch — for a bird
  8. hand — part of the body
  9. perch — for a bird
  10. plane — in geometry
  11. press — a publisher
  12. plane — a tool
  13. perch — the fish
  14. plane — an aircraft
  15. hand — in cards
  16. hand — help
  17. mug — to rob
  18. lash — to lash out
  19. lash — an eyelash
  20. lash — a whip stroke
  21. cap — of ice
  22. press — to push
  23. mug — a face
  24. ground — crushed

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