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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. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  2. When was this ________________ built?
  3. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  4. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  5. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  6. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  7. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  8. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  9. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  10. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  11. Have you settled on a ________________?
  12. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  13. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  14. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  15. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  16. I can't ________________ this cold.
  17. Did you ________________ the button?
  18. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  19. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  20. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  21. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  22. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  23. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  24. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.

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

Answer key

  1. stand — for spectators
  2. temple — a place of worship
  3. stand — on your feet
  4. staff — employees
  5. mouse — for a computer
  6. snap — to snap out of it
  7. date — on the calendar
  8. trunk — of an elephant
  9. trunk — of a tree
  10. press — a publisher
  11. date — on the calendar
  12. temple — side of the head
  13. staff — employees
  14. snap — to speak sharply
  15. staff — a stick
  16. stand — to bear
  17. press — to push
  18. date — the fruit
  19. press — newspapers
  20. mouse — the animal
  21. trunk — of a car
  22. mouse — the animal
  23. snap — to click
  24. temple — a place of worship

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