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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. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  2. This piece is in a major ________________.
  3. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  4. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  5. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  6. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  7. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  8. It is only in accepting others that we can ________________ down our own barriers.
  9. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  10. Drying a ________________ is more honorable than shedding torrents of blood.
  11. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  12. The ________________ market has crashed.
  13. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  14. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  15. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  16. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  17. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  18. Did you ________________ the button?
  19. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  20. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  21. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  22. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  23. I can't ________________ this cold.
  24. I cannot shed a ________________ for that horrible man.

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

Answer key

  1. net — in sport
  2. key — in music
  3. key — for a lock
  4. stand — for spectators
  5. lie — an untruth
  6. key — the most important part
  7. press — newspapers
  8. tear — to rip
  9. press — a publisher
  10. tear — from crying
  11. lie — an untruth
  12. stock — shares
  13. net — for catching
  14. fan — to cool the air
  15. net — after costs
  16. fan — a supporter
  17. lie — to recline
  18. press — to push
  19. stock — goods
  20. stand — on your feet
  21. stock — a soup base
  22. fan — a supporter
  23. stand — to bear
  24. tear — from crying

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