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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. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  2. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  3. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  4. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  5. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  6. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  7. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  8. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  9. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  10. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  11. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  12. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  13. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  14. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  15. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  16. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  17. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  18. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  19. Did you ________________ the button?
  20. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  21. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  22. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  23. It's one o'clock ________________.
  24. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.

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

Answer key

  1. scale — in music
  2. rock — to move gently
  3. hand — help
  4. drill — army training
  5. rock — a stone
  6. hand — part of the body
  7. hand — in cards
  8. press — newspapers
  9. scale — for weighing
  10. press — a publisher
  11. hide — to keep secret
  12. sharp — clever
  13. deal — a big deal
  14. sharp — with an edge
  15. hide — to keep secret
  16. drill — a practice
  17. scale — size or range
  18. drill — the tool
  19. press — to push
  20. hide — animal skin
  21. rock — music
  22. deal — to handle
  23. sharp — exactly
  24. deal — an agreement

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