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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. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  2. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  3. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  4. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  5. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  6. Did you ________________ the button?
  7. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  8. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  9. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  10. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  11. She's very handy with a ________________.
  12. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  13. He works in a ________________ mill.
  14. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  15. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  16. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  17. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  18. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  19. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  20. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  21. The King held a masked ________________.
  22. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  23. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  24. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — lets stay
  2. press — a publisher
  3. rock — music
  4. wave — with your hand
  5. bank — for money
  6. press — to push
  7. wave — a sudden rise
  8. mark — a trace
  9. ball — a great time
  10. rock — a stone
  11. saw — the tool
  12. wave — of the sea
  13. saw — the tool
  14. saw — past of 'see'
  15. ball — a round shape
  16. bank — of a river
  17. bank — for money
  18. press — newspapers
  19. rock — to move gently
  20. mark — a grade
  21. ball — a dance
  22. leaves — of a tree
  23. leaves — to go away
  24. mark — to pay attention

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