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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. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  2. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  3. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  4. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  5. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  6. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  7. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  8. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  9. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  10. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  11. Have you found your soul ________________?
  12. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  13. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  14. Did you ________________ the button?
  15. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  16. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  17. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  18. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  19. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  20. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  21. He is an ace ________________.
  22. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  23. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  24. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — the animal
  2. pitcher — a jug
  3. press — a publisher
  4. press — newspapers
  5. mate — to breed
  6. can — to be able to
  7. fine — high quality
  8. fine — a penalty
  9. mouse — for a computer
  10. mate — a friend
  11. mate — a partner
  12. mouse — the animal
  13. root — of a plant
  14. press — to push
  15. wound — an injury
  16. root — the cause
  17. can — a tin
  18. pitcher — a jug
  19. can — a tin
  20. wound — past of 'wind'
  21. pitcher — in baseball
  22. wound — an injury
  23. fine — all right
  24. root — of a word

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