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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 function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  2. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  3. This piece is in a major ________________.
  4. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  5. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  6. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  7. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  8. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  9. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  10. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  11. He works in a ________________ mill.
  12. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  13. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  14. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  15. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  16. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  17. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  18. Have you met the new head ________________?
  19. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  20. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  21. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  22. Did you ________________ the button?
  23. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  24. She's very handy with a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. press — newspapers
  2. pass — to spend time
  3. key — in music
  4. can — a tin
  5. press — a publisher
  6. key — for a lock
  7. straw — dry grass
  8. mine — for digging
  9. coach — a trainer
  10. mine — an explosive
  11. saw — the tool
  12. pass — to succeed
  13. key — the most important part
  14. saw — past of 'see'
  15. coach — pulled by horses
  16. mine — belonging to me
  17. pass — a permit
  18. coach — a trainer
  19. straw — to clutch at straws
  20. can — to be able to
  21. can — a tin
  22. press — to push
  23. straw — a straw man
  24. saw — the tool

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