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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. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  2. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  3. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  4. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  5. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  6. It's one o'clock ________________.
  7. What do you think of the new ________________?
  8. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  9. Don't do anything ________________.
  10. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  11. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  12. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  13. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  14. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  15. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  16. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  17. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  18. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  19. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  20. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  21. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  22. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  23. Did you ________________ the button?
  24. The old man leaned on his ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. sharp — clever
  2. press — newspapers
  3. staff — employees
  4. cabinet — a cupboard
  5. rock — a stone
  6. sharp — exactly
  7. cabinet — ministers
  8. degree — temperature
  9. rash — hasty
  10. degree — from a university
  11. cabinet — ministers
  12. vault — in gymnastics
  13. staff — employees
  14. vault — an arched ceiling
  15. degree — an amount
  16. rock — to move gently
  17. sharp — with an edge
  18. rash — a series
  19. vault — a safe
  20. rash — on the skin
  21. rock — music
  22. press — a publisher
  23. press — to push
  24. staff — a stick

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