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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 120 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. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  2. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  3. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  4. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  5. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  6. Did you ________________ the meat?
  7. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  8. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  9. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  10. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  11. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  12. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  13. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  14. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  15. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  16. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  17. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  18. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  19. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  20. I'll be taking the ________________.
  21. Don't do anything ________________.
  22. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  23. Did you ________________ the button?
  24. Spring is a pleasant ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mine — for digging
  2. press — a publisher
  3. rash — a series
  4. rock — a stone
  5. bowl — to roll
  6. season — to add flavour
  7. mine — belonging to me
  8. mine — an explosive
  9. bowl — a football final
  10. tube — a container
  11. season — in sport
  12. bank — for money
  13. bowl — a dish
  14. bank — for money
  15. press — newspapers
  16. tube — in a tire
  17. bank — of a river
  18. rash — on the skin
  19. rock — music
  20. tube — the underground
  21. rash — hasty
  22. rock — to move gently
  23. press — to push
  24. season — of the year

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