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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. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  2. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  3. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  4. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  5. There's no middle ________________.
  6. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  7. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  8. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  9. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  10. I can't ________________ this cold.
  11. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  12. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  13. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  14. Did you ________________ the button?
  15. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  16. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  17. That was ________________ to happen.
  18. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  19. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  20. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  21. That must've been a ________________.
  22. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  23. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  24. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?

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

Answer key

  1. bank — for money
  2. press — a publisher
  3. bore — to tire
  4. bound — tied together
  5. ground — a position
  6. bank — for money
  7. hide — to keep secret
  8. bank — of a river
  9. hide — animal skin
  10. stand — to bear
  11. bore — to drill
  12. rush — hurry
  13. rush — to hurry
  14. press — to push
  15. ground — crushed
  16. ground — the earth
  17. bound — certain
  18. stand — for spectators
  19. bore — gave birth
  20. press — newspapers
  21. rush — a thrill
  22. stand — on your feet
  23. bound — obliged
  24. hide — to keep secret

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