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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. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  2. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  3. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  4. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  5. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  6. Did you ________________ the button?
  7. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  8. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  9. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  10. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  11. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  12. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  13. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  14. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  15. The King held a masked ________________.
  16. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  17. Have you met the new head ________________?
  18. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  19. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  20. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  21. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  22. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  23. I can't ________________ this cold.
  24. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.

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

Answer key

  1. ball — a round shape
  2. cap — a lid
  3. foot — a measure
  4. stand — for spectators
  5. foot — the bottom
  6. press — to push
  7. cap — of ice
  8. current — happening now
  9. lash — to lash out
  10. current — electric
  11. stand — on your feet
  12. cap — a hat
  13. ball — a great time
  14. lash — a whip stroke
  15. ball — a dance
  16. lash — an eyelash
  17. coach — a trainer
  18. coach — pulled by horses
  19. press — a publisher
  20. foot — part of the body
  21. coach — a trainer
  22. current — of water
  23. stand — to bear
  24. press — newspapers

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