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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. Did you ________________ the button?
  2. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  3. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  4. It was raining hard, and to make things worse, the ________________ was beginning to rise.
  5. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  6. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  7. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  8. It's one o'clock ________________.
  9. The strong ________________ blew his hat off.
  10. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  11. He sold his goods at a loss to ________________ up his business.
  12. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  13. The King held a masked ________________.
  14. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  15. This piece is in a major ________________.
  16. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  17. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  18. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  19. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  20. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  21. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  22. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  23. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  24. He's quite ________________, isn't he?

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

Answer key

  1. press — to push
  2. press — newspapers
  3. ball — a great time
  4. wind — moving air
  5. ruler — for measuring
  6. ruler — a monarch
  7. bowl — a dish
  8. sharp — exactly
  9. wind — moving air
  10. press — a publisher
  11. wind — to turn a key
  12. ball — a round shape
  13. ball — a dance
  14. bowl — to roll
  15. key — in music
  16. lash — to lash out
  17. key — the most important part
  18. lash — an eyelash
  19. sharp — with an edge
  20. key — for a lock
  21. ruler — for measuring
  22. bowl — a football final
  23. lash — a whip stroke
  24. sharp — clever

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