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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. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  2. That must've been a ________________.
  3. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  4. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  5. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  6. Did you ________________ the button?
  7. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  8. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  9. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  10. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  11. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  12. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  13. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  14. That was ________________ to happen.
  15. David sat on the ________________.
  16. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  17. That was a fun ________________.
  18. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  19. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  20. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  21. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  22. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  23. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  24. Take your time. There's no ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. press — newspapers
  2. rush — a thrill
  3. safe — a strongbox
  4. hand — part of the body
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. press — to push
  7. swing — music
  8. fan — a supporter
  9. press — a publisher
  10. game — a kind of play
  11. bound — obliged
  12. swing — in golf
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. bound — certain
  15. swing — to play on
  16. rush — to hurry
  17. game — a match
  18. hand — in cards
  19. fan — to cool the air
  20. game — wild animals
  21. fan — a supporter
  22. hand — help
  23. bound — tied together
  24. rush — hurry

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