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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. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  2. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  3. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  4. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  5. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  6. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  7. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  8. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  9. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  10. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  11. Did you ________________ the button?
  12. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  13. Have you met the new head ________________?
  14. When are we going to ________________?
  15. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  16. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  17. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  18. Did you ________________ the meat?
  19. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  20. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  21. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  22. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  23. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  24. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.

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

Answer key

  1. bark — to shout
  2. land — ground
  3. press — newspapers
  4. coach — pulled by horses
  5. fan — a supporter
  6. bark — a dog's sound
  7. coach — a trainer
  8. season — of the year
  9. firm — a company
  10. can — to be able to
  11. press — to push
  12. bark — of a tree
  13. coach — a trainer
  14. land — to come down
  15. firm — steady
  16. season — in sport
  17. can — a tin
  18. season — to add flavour
  19. land — a country
  20. fan — a supporter
  21. firm — decided
  22. fan — to cool the air
  23. press — a publisher
  24. can — a tin

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