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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. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  2. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  3. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  4. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  5. Did you ________________ the button?
  6. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  7. The ball is in your ________________.
  8. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  9. The ________________ market has crashed.
  10. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  11. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  12. When will it ________________ you to start?
  13. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  14. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  15. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  16. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  17. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  18. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  19. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  20. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  21. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  22. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  23. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  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. court — of a king
  2. court — of law
  3. press — newspapers
  4. can — to be able to
  5. press — to push
  6. safe — a strongbox
  7. court — for sport
  8. stock — goods
  9. stock — shares
  10. stock — a soup base
  11. suit — in cards
  12. suit — to fit
  13. can — a tin
  14. lie — an untruth
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. rest — a break
  17. suit — clothes
  18. rest — what's left
  19. lie — an untruth
  20. can — a tin
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. rest — what's left
  23. lie — to recline
  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