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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 116 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 ________________ went through the wall.
  2. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  3. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  4. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  5. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  6. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  7. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  8. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  9. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  10. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  11. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  12. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  13. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  14. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  15. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  16. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  17. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  18. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  19. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  20. Did you ________________ the button?
  21. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  22. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  23. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  24. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?

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

Answer key

  1. nail — for a hammer
  2. mark — a trace
  3. rock — to move gently
  4. nail — for a hammer
  5. fan — a supporter
  6. patient — calm and waiting
  7. press — a publisher
  8. object — an aim
  9. trunk — of a tree
  10. fan — to cool the air
  11. nail — on a finger
  12. patient — a sick person
  13. mark — to pay attention
  14. object — to protest
  15. mark — a grade
  16. rock — music
  17. rock — a stone
  18. press — newspapers
  19. object — a thing
  20. press — to push
  21. trunk — of a car
  22. trunk — of an elephant
  23. patient — a sick person
  24. fan — a supporter

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