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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 president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  2. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  3. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  4. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  5. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  6. Did you ________________ the meat?
  7. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  8. We're almost out of ________________.
  9. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  10. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  11. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  12. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  13. Did you ________________ the button?
  14. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  15. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  16. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  17. When was this ________________ built?
  18. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  19. You don't need to ________________ round.
  20. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  21. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  22. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  23. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  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. squash — to crush
  2. pass — to spend time
  3. face — to confront
  4. press — newspapers
  5. temple — a place of worship
  6. season — to add flavour
  7. pass — to succeed
  8. pop — soda
  9. root — of a plant
  10. season — of the year
  11. pop — music
  12. squash — the sport
  13. press — to push
  14. temple — side of the head
  15. face — part of the head
  16. season — in sport
  17. temple — a place of worship
  18. root — of a word
  19. pop — to visit
  20. face — to point toward
  21. root — the cause
  22. pass — a permit
  23. squash — the vegetable
  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