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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 120 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. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  2. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  3. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  4. Don't do anything ________________.
  5. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  6. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  7. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  8. Did you ________________ the button?
  9. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  10. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  11. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  12. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  13. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  14. Have you met the new head ________________?
  15. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  16. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  17. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  18. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  19. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  20. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  21. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  22. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  23. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  24. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. chair — to sit on
  2. mouse — the animal
  3. foot — the bottom
  4. rash — hasty
  5. mouse — the animal
  6. fan — a supporter
  7. mouse — for a computer
  8. press — to push
  9. root — of a plant
  10. foot — part of the body
  11. coach — pulled by horses
  12. fan — to cool the air
  13. foot — a measure
  14. coach — a trainer
  15. root — the cause
  16. press — newspapers
  17. rash — on the skin
  18. root — of a word
  19. rash — a series
  20. fan — a supporter
  21. coach — a trainer
  22. press — a publisher
  23. chair — a leader
  24. chair — a professorship

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