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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. When will it ________________ you to start?
  2. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  3. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  4. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  5. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  6. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  7. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  8. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  9. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  10. That must've been a ________________.
  11. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  12. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  13. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  14. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  15. Did you ________________ the button?
  16. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  17. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  18. What do you think of the new ________________?
  19. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  20. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  21. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  22. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  23. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  24. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.

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

Answer key

  1. suit — to fit
  2. rest — a break
  3. lie — an untruth
  4. suit — clothes
  5. rest — what's left
  6. wound — an injury
  7. leaves — of a tree
  8. press — newspapers
  9. wound — past of 'wind'
  10. rush — a thrill
  11. cabinet — a cupboard
  12. lie — an untruth
  13. suit — in cards
  14. rush — to hurry
  15. press — to push
  16. lie — to recline
  17. rush — hurry
  18. cabinet — ministers
  19. leaves — to go away
  20. rest — what's left
  21. leaves — lets stay
  22. wound — an injury
  23. cabinet — ministers
  24. press — a publisher

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