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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. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  2. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  3. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  4. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  5. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  6. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  7. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  8. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  9. Did you ________________ the button?
  10. He is an ace ________________.
  11. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  12. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  13. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  14. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  15. Where did you ________________ them?
  16. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  17. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  18. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  19. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  20. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  21. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  22. He was locked up in a ________________.
  23. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  24. Fill up this ________________ with water.

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

Answer key

  1. cell — a phone
  2. patient — a sick person
  3. mug — a face
  4. mouse — the animal
  5. track — a song
  6. cell — in biology
  7. press — newspapers
  8. patient — a sick person
  9. press — to push
  10. pitcher — in baseball
  11. toast — bread
  12. mug — a cup
  13. press — a publisher
  14. pitcher — a jug
  15. mug — to rob
  16. track — to keep track
  17. toast — a drink to someone
  18. track — a path
  19. mouse — for a computer
  20. toast — the most admired
  21. mouse — the animal
  22. cell — in a prison
  23. patient — calm and waiting
  24. pitcher — a jug

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