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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. We're almost out of ________________.
  2. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  3. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  4. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  5. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  6. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  7. The ________________ went through the wall.
  8. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  9. What do you think of the new ________________?
  10. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  11. You don't need to ________________ round.
  12. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  13. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  14. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  15. Did you ________________ the button?
  16. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  17. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  18. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  19. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  20. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  21. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  22. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  23. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  24. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.

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

Answer key

  1. pop — soda
  2. face — to point toward
  3. bank — for money
  4. toast — the most admired
  5. nail — on a finger
  6. press — a publisher
  7. nail — for a hammer
  8. lean — thin
  9. cabinet — ministers
  10. cabinet — a cupboard
  11. pop — to visit
  12. bank — of a river
  13. face — part of the head
  14. bank — for money
  15. press — to push
  16. face — to confront
  17. pop — music
  18. toast — bread
  19. press — newspapers
  20. lean — to bend
  21. cabinet — ministers
  22. nail — for a hammer
  23. toast — a drink to someone
  24. lean — to rest against

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