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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. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  3. This piece is in a major ________________.
  4. We're almost out of ________________.
  5. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  6. That must've been a ________________.
  7. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  8. False peace will not ________________.
  9. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  10. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  11. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  12. How do you ________________ your surname?
  13. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  14. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  15. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  16. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  17. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  18. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  19. Did you ________________ the button?
  20. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  21. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  22. You don't need to ________________ round.
  23. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  24. Hard work is the ________________ to success.

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

Answer key

  1. press — newspapers
  2. fine — high quality
  3. key — in music
  4. pop — soda
  5. rush — to hurry
  6. rush — a thrill
  7. pop — music
  8. last — to go on
  9. key — for a lock
  10. fine — a penalty
  11. spring — the season
  12. spell — letters
  13. last — finally
  14. press — a publisher
  15. fine — all right
  16. rush — hurry
  17. spring — of water
  18. last — final
  19. press — to push
  20. spell — a short time
  21. spell — magic
  22. pop — to visit
  23. spring — a coil
  24. key — the most important part

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