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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. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  2. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  3. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  4. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  5. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  6. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  7. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  8. That was ________________ to happen.
  9. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  10. It's one o'clock ________________.
  11. There's no middle ________________.
  12. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  13. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  14. My mare is ________________ in color.
  15. This piece is in a major ________________.
  16. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  17. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  18. Did you ________________ the button?
  19. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  20. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  21. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  22. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  23. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  24. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.

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

Answer key

  1. press — a publisher
  2. snap — to speak sharply
  3. sharp — with an edge
  4. ground — the earth
  5. snap — to snap out of it
  6. key — the most important part
  7. key — for a lock
  8. bound — certain
  9. rock — music
  10. sharp — exactly
  11. ground — a position
  12. bound — obliged
  13. bay — a part of the sea
  14. bay — a horse colour
  15. key — in music
  16. sharp — clever
  17. bay — to keep at bay
  18. press — to push
  19. press — newspapers
  20. bound — tied together
  21. ground — crushed
  22. rock — a stone
  23. rock — to move gently
  24. snap — to click

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