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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 116 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. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  2. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  3. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  4. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  5. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  6. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  7. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  8. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  9. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  10. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  11. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  12. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  13. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  14. Did you ________________ the button?
  15. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  16. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  17. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  18. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  19. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  20. Have you met the new head ________________?
  21. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  22. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  23. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  24. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.

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

Answer key

  1. press — a publisher
  2. bowl — a football final
  3. press — newspapers
  4. can — a tin
  5. coach — a trainer
  6. band — a ring
  7. fine — high quality
  8. leaves — lets stay
  9. leaves — to go away
  10. leaves — of a tree
  11. lie — to recline
  12. bowl — a dish
  13. can — a tin
  14. press — to push
  15. bowl — to roll
  16. fine — all right
  17. can — to be able to
  18. band — a rubber band
  19. lie — an untruth
  20. coach — a trainer
  21. lie — an untruth
  22. band — a music group
  23. coach — pulled by horses
  24. fine — a penalty

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