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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. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  2. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  3. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  4. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  5. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  6. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  7. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  8. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  9. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  10. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  11. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  12. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  13. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  14. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  15. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  16. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  17. We're on a ________________ here.
  18. That must've been a ________________.
  19. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  20. Did you ________________ the button?
  21. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  22. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  23. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  24. You shouldn't ________________ things.

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

Answer key

  1. bear — the animal
  2. foot — the bottom
  3. staff — a stick
  4. bear — the animal
  5. press — a publisher
  6. racket — for tennis
  7. bear — to put up with
  8. press — newspapers
  9. rush — hurry
  10. roll — a list
  11. foot — a measure
  12. hide — to keep secret
  13. staff — employees
  14. staff — employees
  15. hide — animal skin
  16. foot — part of the body
  17. roll — on a roll
  18. rush — a thrill
  19. hide — to keep secret
  20. press — to push
  21. racket — for tennis
  22. roll — a cake
  23. racket — a loud noise
  24. rush — to hurry

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