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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. The ________________ went through the wall.
  2. Did you ________________ the button?
  3. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  4. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  5. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  6. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  7. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  8. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  9. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  10. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  11. I can't ________________ this cold.
  12. There's no middle ________________.
  13. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  14. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  15. That was ________________ to happen.
  16. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  17. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  18. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  19. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  20. Did you ________________ the meat?
  21. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  22. When will it ________________ you to start?
  23. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  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. nail — for a hammer
  2. press — to push
  3. press — newspapers
  4. track — to keep track
  5. stand — for spectators
  6. track — a path
  7. ground — the earth
  8. season — of the year
  9. season — in sport
  10. track — a song
  11. stand — to bear
  12. ground — a position
  13. suit — clothes
  14. nail — for a hammer
  15. bound — certain
  16. bound — tied together
  17. stand — on your feet
  18. bound — obliged
  19. ground — crushed
  20. season — to add flavour
  21. suit — in cards
  22. suit — to fit
  23. nail — on a finger
  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