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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.

Make a worksheet

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 function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  2. When was this ________________ built?
  3. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  4. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  5. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  6. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  7. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  8. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  9. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  10. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  11. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  12. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  13. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  14. That was a fun ________________.
  15. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  16. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  17. Did you ________________ the button?
  18. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  19. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  20. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  21. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  22. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  23. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  24. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.

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

Answer key

  1. press — newspapers
  2. temple — a place of worship
  3. mouse — the animal
  4. press — a publisher
  5. staff — employees
  6. mouse — for a computer
  7. game — wild animals
  8. present — a gift
  9. straw — to clutch at straws
  10. fan — a supporter
  11. straw — dry grass
  12. present — the time now
  13. staff — employees
  14. game — a match
  15. staff — a stick
  16. present — there
  17. press — to push
  18. mouse — the animal
  19. fan — a supporter
  20. temple — side of the head
  21. temple — a place of worship
  22. fan — to cool the air
  23. straw — a straw man
  24. game — a kind of play

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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