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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. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  2. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  3. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  4. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  5. Winning one ________________ isn't the same as dominating a sport.
  6. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  7. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  8. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  9. It's one o'clock ________________.
  10. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  11. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  12. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  13. Only by prohibiting all nuclear weapons, we can together stop the arms ________________.
  14. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  15. Atomic bombs are a danger to the human ________________.
  16. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  17. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  18. Did you ________________ the button?
  19. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  20. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  21. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  22. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  23. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  24. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — of a tree
  2. press — newspapers
  3. sharp — with an edge
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. race — a contest
  6. content — happy
  7. band — a music group
  8. safe — a strongbox
  9. sharp — exactly
  10. stick — a piece of wood
  11. sharp — clever
  12. leaves — lets stay
  13. race — the arms race
  14. content — videos and posts
  15. race — humankind
  16. leaves — to go away
  17. content — the amount
  18. press — to push
  19. band — a ring
  20. stick — a piece of wood
  21. press — a publisher
  22. band — a rubber band
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. stick — to attach or keep to

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