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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 muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  2. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  3. The tickets are free of ________________.
  4. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  5. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  6. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  7. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  8. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  9. What do you think of the new ________________?
  10. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  11. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  12. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  13. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  14. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  15. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  16. Did you ________________ the button?
  17. My mare is ________________ in color.
  18. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  19. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  20. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  21. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  22. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  23. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  24. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.

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

Answer key

  1. track — a path
  2. firm — steady
  3. charge — a price
  4. press — newspapers
  5. trunk — of an elephant
  6. fork — a garden tool
  7. bay — to keep at bay
  8. charge — in control
  9. cabinet — ministers
  10. trunk — of a tree
  11. charge — electricity
  12. bay — a part of the sea
  13. press — a publisher
  14. track — a song
  15. trunk — of a car
  16. press — to push
  17. bay — a horse colour
  18. firm — a company
  19. track — to keep track
  20. cabinet — ministers
  21. fork — in a road
  22. cabinet — a cupboard
  23. firm — decided
  24. fork — to eat with

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