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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. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  2. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  3. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  4. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  5. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  6. Did you ________________ the meat?
  7. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  8. It's one o'clock ________________.
  9. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  10. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  11. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  12. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  13. Did you ________________ the button?
  14. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  15. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  16. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  17. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  18. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  19. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  20. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  21. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  22. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  23. Where did you ________________ them?
  24. The ________________ change colour in autumn.

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

Answer key

  1. row — to paddle
  2. sharp — clever
  3. leaves — to go away
  4. row — a quarrel
  5. press — a publisher
  6. season — to add flavour
  7. fan — a supporter
  8. sharp — exactly
  9. fan — to cool the air
  10. press — newspapers
  11. season — of the year
  12. stick — a piece of wood
  13. press — to push
  14. leaves — lets stay
  15. fan — a supporter
  16. stick — a piece of wood
  17. row — a line
  18. mug — a cup
  19. sharp — with an edge
  20. season — in sport
  21. stick — to attach or keep to
  22. mug — a face
  23. mug — to rob
  24. leaves — of a tree

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