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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 120 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. Did you ________________ the button?
  3. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  4. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  5. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  6. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  7. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  8. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  9. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  10. He is an ace ________________.
  11. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  12. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  13. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  14. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  15. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  16. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  17. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  18. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  19. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  20. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  21. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  22. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  23. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  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. leaves — to go away
  2. press — to push
  3. track — a path
  4. can — a tin
  5. press — newspapers
  6. rock — music
  7. track — to keep track
  8. leaves — lets stay
  9. mine — an explosive
  10. pitcher — in baseball
  11. rock — a stone
  12. pitcher — a jug
  13. safe — a strongbox
  14. leaves — of a tree
  15. rock — to move gently
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. pitcher — a jug
  18. can — a tin
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. mine — belonging to me
  21. mine — for digging
  22. can — to be able to
  23. press — a publisher
  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