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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. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  2. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  3. The ________________ went through the wall.
  4. We're almost out of ________________.
  5. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  6. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  7. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  8. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  9. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  10. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  11. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  12. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  13. You don't need to ________________ round.
  14. Did you ________________ the button?
  15. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  16. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  17. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  18. My mare is ________________ in color.
  19. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  20. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  21. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  22. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  23. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  24. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.

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

Answer key

  1. press — a publisher
  2. file — a line of people
  3. nail — for a hammer
  4. pop — soda
  5. squash — the vegetable
  6. dip — to sink
  7. dip — to dunk
  8. file — a tool
  9. mark — a grade
  10. press — newspapers
  11. bay — to keep at bay
  12. bay — a part of the sea
  13. pop — to visit
  14. press — to push
  15. nail — for a hammer
  16. mark — to pay attention
  17. squash — to crush
  18. bay — a horse colour
  19. squash — the sport
  20. mark — a trace
  21. nail — on a finger
  22. dip — a sauce
  23. file — a document
  24. pop — music

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