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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 function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  2. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  3. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  4. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  5. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  6. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  7. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  8. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  9. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  10. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  11. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  12. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  13. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  14. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  15. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  16. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  17. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  18. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  19. Did you ________________ the button?
  20. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  21. That was ________________ to happen.
  22. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  23. The ________________ went through the wall.
  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. press — newspapers
  2. root — of a plant
  3. can — to be able to
  4. field — farmland
  5. nail — for a hammer
  6. can — a tin
  7. field — a subject
  8. fine — a penalty
  9. can — a tin
  10. field — for sport
  11. cue — a signal
  12. bound — obliged
  13. nail — on a finger
  14. fine — high quality
  15. bound — tied together
  16. root — the cause
  17. cue — for pool
  18. cue — a hint
  19. press — to push
  20. fine — all right
  21. bound — certain
  22. root — of a word
  23. nail — for a hammer
  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