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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. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  2. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  3. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  4. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  5. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  6. Did you ________________ the button?
  7. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  8. She's very handy with a ________________.
  9. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  10. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  11. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  12. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  13. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  14. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  15. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  16. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  17. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  18. I can't ________________ this cold.
  19. He works in a ________________ mill.
  20. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  21. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  22. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  23. Have you met the new head ________________?
  24. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.

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

Answer key

  1. press — a publisher
  2. shower — to wash
  3. press — newspapers
  4. track — a song
  5. saw — past of 'see'
  6. press — to push
  7. wave — a sudden rise
  8. saw — the tool
  9. shower — a meteor shower
  10. wave — of the sea
  11. stand — for spectators
  12. track — to keep track
  13. patient — a sick person
  14. coach — a trainer
  15. shower — rain
  16. patient — a sick person
  17. coach — pulled by horses
  18. stand — to bear
  19. saw — the tool
  20. wave — with your hand
  21. track — a path
  22. stand — on your feet
  23. coach — a trainer
  24. patient — calm and waiting

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