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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. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  2. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  3. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  4. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  5. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  6. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  7. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  8. Did you ________________ the button?
  9. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  10. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  11. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  12. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  13. Have you found your soul ________________?
  14. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  15. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  16. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  17. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  18. What do you think of the new ________________?
  19. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  20. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  21. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  22. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  23. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  24. The ________________ took off on time.

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

Answer key

  1. mate — a friend
  2. cabinet — ministers
  3. lie — to recline
  4. mate — to breed
  5. can — to be able to
  6. board — a committee
  7. plane — a tool
  8. press — to push
  9. cabinet — a cupboard
  10. squash — the sport
  11. can — a tin
  12. board — a flat piece
  13. mate — a partner
  14. can — a tin
  15. plane — in geometry
  16. lie — an untruth
  17. press — newspapers
  18. cabinet — ministers
  19. lie — an untruth
  20. squash — to crush
  21. board — to get on
  22. squash — the vegetable
  23. press — a publisher
  24. plane — an aircraft

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