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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 124 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. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  2. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  3. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  4. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  5. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  6. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  7. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  8. Don't do anything ________________.
  9. Did you ________________ the button?
  10. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  11. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  12. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  13. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  14. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  15. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  16. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  17. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  18. The ________________ went through the wall.
  19. That was ________________ to happen.
  20. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  21. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  22. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  23. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  24. Recycle the empty soda ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. press — a publisher
  2. chip — for betting
  3. bank — of a river
  4. press — newspapers
  5. bank — for money
  6. track — a song
  7. bound — obliged
  8. rash — hasty
  9. press — to push
  10. bound — tied together
  11. chip — to eat
  12. can — to be able to
  13. track — to keep track
  14. rash — on the skin
  15. nail — for a hammer
  16. can — a tin
  17. rash — a series
  18. nail — for a hammer
  19. bound — certain
  20. bank — for money
  21. chip — in a computer
  22. nail — on a finger
  23. track — a path
  24. can — a tin

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