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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. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  2. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  3. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  4. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  5. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  6. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  7. He is an ace ________________.
  8. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  9. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  10. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.
  11. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  12. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  13. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  14. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  15. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  16. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  17. Did you ________________ the button?
  18. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  19. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  20. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  21. How do you ________________ your surname?
  22. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  23. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  24. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — the animal
  2. press — newspapers
  3. rule — government
  4. lie — an untruth
  5. rule — to rule out
  6. rule — a law
  7. pitcher — in baseball
  8. pass — a permit
  9. spell — magic
  10. bat — for baseball
  11. mouse — the animal
  12. pitcher — a jug
  13. lie — an untruth
  14. lie — to recline
  15. pass — to spend time
  16. pitcher — a jug
  17. press — to push
  18. mouse — for a computer
  19. bat — the animal
  20. bat — in an idiom
  21. spell — letters
  22. spell — a short time
  23. pass — to succeed
  24. press — a publisher

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