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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. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  2. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  3. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  4. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  5. I'll be taking the ________________.
  6. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  7. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  8. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  9. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  10. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  11. He works in a ________________ mill.
  12. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  13. Did you ________________ the button?
  14. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  15. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  16. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  17. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  18. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  19. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  20. She's very handy with a ________________.
  21. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  22. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  23. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  24. Should I buy a wireless ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — the animal
  2. tube — in a tire
  3. toast — a drink to someone
  4. press — a publisher
  5. tube — the underground
  6. press — newspapers
  7. bank — for money
  8. root — of a plant
  9. file — a document
  10. mouse — the animal
  11. saw — the tool
  12. tube — a container
  13. press — to push
  14. toast — the most admired
  15. file — a line of people
  16. saw — past of 'see'
  17. toast — bread
  18. bank — for money
  19. file — a tool
  20. saw — the tool
  21. bank — of a river
  22. root — of a word
  23. root — the cause
  24. mouse — for a computer

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