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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 116 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. That must've been a ________________.
  2. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  3. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  4. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  5. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  6. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  7. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  8. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  9. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  10. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  11. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  12. Did you ________________ the button?
  13. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  14. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  15. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  16. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  17. That was ________________ to happen.
  18. What do you think of the new ________________?
  19. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  20. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  21. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  22. The tickets are free of ________________.
  23. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  24. Where can I ________________ my mobile?

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

Answer key

  1. rush — a thrill
  2. bound — obliged
  3. cabinet — ministers
  4. rest — what's left
  5. hand — in cards
  6. cabinet — a cupboard
  7. charge — in control
  8. rest — what's left
  9. press — newspapers
  10. mark — a trace
  11. rest — a break
  12. press — to push
  13. mark — a grade
  14. hand — part of the body
  15. mark — to pay attention
  16. press — a publisher
  17. bound — certain
  18. cabinet — ministers
  19. bound — tied together
  20. rush — to hurry
  21. hand — help
  22. charge — a price
  23. rush — hurry
  24. charge — electricity

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