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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. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  2. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  3. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  4. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  5. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  6. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  7. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  8. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  9. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  10. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  11. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  12. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  13. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  14. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  15. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  16. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  17. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  18. Did you ________________ the button?
  19. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  20. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  21. He is an ace ________________.
  22. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  23. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  24. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.

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

Answer key

  1. squash — to crush
  2. calf — a young animal
  3. bank — for money
  4. calf — of the leg
  5. cue — for pool
  6. cue — a hint
  7. squash — the vegetable
  8. bank — of a river
  9. face — to confront
  10. pitcher — a jug
  11. bank — for money
  12. press — newspapers
  13. face — part of the head
  14. racket — a loud noise
  15. pitcher — a jug
  16. racket — for tennis
  17. face — to point toward
  18. press — to push
  19. cue — a signal
  20. racket — for tennis
  21. pitcher — in baseball
  22. calf — a young animal
  23. squash — the sport
  24. press — a publisher

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