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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. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  2. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  3. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  4. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  5. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  6. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  7. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  8. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  9. The ________________ went through the wall.
  10. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  11. When will it ________________ you to start?
  12. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  13. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  14. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  15. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  16. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  17. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  18. Did you ________________ the button?
  19. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  20. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.
  21. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  22. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  23. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  24. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.

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

Answer key

  1. rest — what's left
  2. branch — of a tree
  3. bat — in an idiom
  4. squash — the vegetable
  5. bat — the animal
  6. rest — what's left
  7. rest — a break
  8. nail — for a hammer
  9. nail — for a hammer
  10. press — a publisher
  11. suit — to fit
  12. squash — the sport
  13. vault — a safe
  14. press — newspapers
  15. vault — an arched ceiling
  16. branch — of a bank
  17. suit — in cards
  18. press — to push
  19. suit — clothes
  20. bat — for baseball
  21. branch — a division
  22. vault — in gymnastics
  23. nail — on a finger
  24. squash — to crush

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