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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 120 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. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  2. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  3. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  4. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  5. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  6. Did you ________________ the button?
  7. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  8. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  9. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  10. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  11. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  12. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  13. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  14. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  15. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  16. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  17. That was ________________ to happen.
  18. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  19. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  20. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  21. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  22. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  23. When will it ________________ you to start?
  24. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. content — the amount
  2. content — happy
  3. press — newspapers
  4. bear — to put up with
  5. bear — the animal
  6. press — to push
  7. bound — tied together
  8. bound — obliged
  9. bore — gave birth
  10. fan — a supporter
  11. bore — to tire
  12. bear — the animal
  13. band — a music group
  14. band — a ring
  15. suit — in cards
  16. fan — a supporter
  17. bound — certain
  18. press — a publisher
  19. fan — to cool the air
  20. suit — clothes
  21. band — a rubber band
  22. bore — to drill
  23. suit — to fit
  24. content — videos and posts

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