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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. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  2. When was this ________________ built?
  3. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  4. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  5. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  6. Did you ________________ the button?
  7. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  8. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  9. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  10. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  11. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  12. He is an ace ________________.
  13. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  14. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  15. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  16. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  17. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  18. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  19. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  20. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  21. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  22. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  23. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  24. Recycle the empty soda ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. press — a publisher
  2. temple — a place of worship
  3. bore — to drill
  4. lash — a whip stroke
  5. ruler — for measuring
  6. press — to push
  7. bore — gave birth
  8. lash — to lash out
  9. lash — an eyelash
  10. ruler — a monarch
  11. pitcher — a jug
  12. pitcher — in baseball
  13. fan — to cool the air
  14. pitcher — a jug
  15. press — newspapers
  16. can — to be able to
  17. bore — to tire
  18. fan — a supporter
  19. fan — a supporter
  20. temple — a place of worship
  21. temple — side of the head
  22. can — a tin
  23. ruler — for measuring
  24. can — a tin

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