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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. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  2. He was locked up in a ________________.
  3. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  4. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  5. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  6. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  7. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  8. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  9. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  10. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  11. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  12. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  13. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  14. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  15. Did you ________________ the button?
  16. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  17. False peace will not ________________.
  18. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  19. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  20. Have you met the new head ________________?
  21. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  22. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  23. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  24. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — to succeed
  2. cell — in a prison
  3. press — newspapers
  4. pass — a permit
  5. mark — a grade
  6. coach — pulled by horses
  7. pass — to spend time
  8. squash — the sport
  9. coach — a trainer
  10. stick — to attach or keep to
  11. stick — a piece of wood
  12. mark — to pay attention
  13. squash — to crush
  14. last — finally
  15. press — to push
  16. stick — a piece of wood
  17. last — to go on
  18. mark — a trace
  19. cell — in biology
  20. coach — a trainer
  21. last — final
  22. press — a publisher
  23. cell — a phone
  24. squash — the vegetable

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