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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. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  3. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  4. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  5. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  6. Did you ________________ the button?
  7. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  8. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  9. When will it ________________ you to start?
  10. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  11. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  12. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  13. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  14. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  15. That was ________________ to happen.
  16. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  17. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  18. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  19. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  20. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  21. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  22. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  23. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  24. I'll be taking the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. press — newspapers
  2. board — a committee
  3. calf — a young animal
  4. press — a publisher
  5. mouse — for a computer
  6. press — to push
  7. suit — in cards
  8. tube — a container
  9. suit — to fit
  10. bound — obliged
  11. calf — of the leg
  12. bound — tied together
  13. field — farmland
  14. board — a flat piece
  15. bound — certain
  16. mouse — the animal
  17. mouse — the animal
  18. tube — in a tire
  19. calf — a young animal
  20. board — to get on
  21. field — for sport
  22. field — a subject
  23. suit — clothes
  24. tube — the underground

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