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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 soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  2. I'll be taking the ________________.
  3. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  4. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  5. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  6. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  7. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  8. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  9. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  10. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  11. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  12. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  13. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  14. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  15. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  16. Did you ________________ the button?
  17. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  18. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  19. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  20. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  21. That was ________________ to happen.
  22. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  23. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  24. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. drill — army training
  2. tube — the underground
  3. press — newspapers
  4. lie — an untruth
  5. bound — tied together
  6. lie — to recline
  7. shower — a meteor shower
  8. trunk — of a car
  9. trunk — of a tree
  10. lie — an untruth
  11. press — a publisher
  12. shower — rain
  13. tube — a container
  14. bound — obliged
  15. trunk — of an elephant
  16. press — to push
  17. drill — a practice
  18. bass — the instrument
  19. shower — to wash
  20. tube — in a tire
  21. bound — certain
  22. drill — the tool
  23. bass — low music
  24. bass — the fish

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