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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. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  2. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  3. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  4. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  5. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  6. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  7. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  8. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  9. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  10. Did you ________________ the button?
  11. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  12. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  13. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  14. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  15. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  16. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  17. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  18. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  19. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  20. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  21. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  22. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  23. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  24. When was this ________________ built?

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

Answer key

  1. fine — all right
  2. lash — a whip stroke
  3. press — a publisher
  4. band — a music group
  5. leaves — of a tree
  6. temple — a place of worship
  7. toast — the most admired
  8. band — a ring
  9. toast — a drink to someone
  10. press — to push
  11. fine — a penalty
  12. fan — a supporter
  13. temple — side of the head
  14. leaves — lets stay
  15. lash — an eyelash
  16. leaves — to go away
  17. fan — a supporter
  18. fan — to cool the air
  19. toast — bread
  20. lash — to lash out
  21. fine — high quality
  22. band — a rubber band
  23. press — newspapers
  24. temple — a place of worship

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