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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. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  2. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  3. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  4. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  5. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  6. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  7. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  8. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  9. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  10. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  11. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  12. Did you ________________ the button?
  13. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  14. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  15. Have you met the new head ________________?
  16. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  17. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  18. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  19. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  20. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  21. That was ________________ to happen.
  22. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  23. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  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. press — a publisher
  2. pass — to spend time
  3. fork — in a road
  4. pass — to succeed
  5. wound — past of 'wind'
  6. fork — a garden tool
  7. ruler — for measuring
  8. bound — tied together
  9. coach — a trainer
  10. pass — a permit
  11. ruler — a monarch
  12. press — to push
  13. band — a ring
  14. wound — an injury
  15. coach — a trainer
  16. coach — pulled by horses
  17. wound — an injury
  18. band — a rubber band
  19. band — a music group
  20. bound — obliged
  21. bound — certain
  22. press — newspapers
  23. ruler — for measuring
  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