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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. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  2. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  3. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  4. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  5. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  6. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  7. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  8. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  9. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  10. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  11. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  12. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  13. Did you ________________ the button?
  14. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  15. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  16. Did you ________________ the meat?
  17. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  18. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  19. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  20. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  21. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  22. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  23. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  24. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.

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

Answer key

  1. face — part of the head
  2. press — a publisher
  3. season — in sport
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. wake — before a funeral
  6. season — of the year
  7. can — a tin
  8. safe — a strongbox
  9. track — a path
  10. face — to confront
  11. press — newspapers
  12. wake — a trail
  13. press — to push
  14. track — to keep track
  15. object — an aim
  16. season — to add flavour
  17. object — to protest
  18. can — a tin
  19. can — to be able to
  20. object — a thing
  21. face — to point toward
  22. track — a song
  23. wake — to stop sleeping
  24. safe — out of danger

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