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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. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  2. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  3. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  4. Did you ________________ the button?
  5. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  6. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  7. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  8. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  9. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  10. The tickets are free of ________________.
  11. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  12. He works in a ________________ mill.
  13. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  14. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  15. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  16. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  17. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  18. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  19. My mare is ________________ in color.
  20. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  21. She's very handy with a ________________.
  22. The ________________ took off on time.
  23. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  24. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.

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

Answer key

  1. bay — to keep at bay
  2. charge — in control
  3. charge — electricity
  4. press — to push
  5. can — to be able to
  6. bay — a part of the sea
  7. can — a tin
  8. plane — a tool
  9. kid — to tease
  10. charge — a price
  11. saw — past of 'see'
  12. saw — the tool
  13. press — newspapers
  14. kid — child
  15. mine — an explosive
  16. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  17. plane — in geometry
  18. mine — for digging
  19. bay — a horse colour
  20. can — a tin
  21. saw — the tool
  22. plane — an aircraft
  23. press — a publisher
  24. mine — belonging to me

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