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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. Did you ________________ the button?
  2. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  3. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  4. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  5. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  6. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  7. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  8. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  9. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  10. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  11. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  12. The ball is in your ________________.
  13. The ________________ went through the wall.
  14. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  15. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  16. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  17. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  18. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  19. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  20. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  21. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  22. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  23. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  24. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!

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

Answer key

  1. press — to push
  2. ruler — for measuring
  3. court — of a king
  4. hand — help
  5. press — newspapers
  6. nail — for a hammer
  7. current — happening now
  8. bear — the animal
  9. rest — what's left
  10. ruler — for measuring
  11. press — a publisher
  12. court — for sport
  13. nail — for a hammer
  14. rest — a break
  15. hand — in cards
  16. court — of law
  17. hand — part of the body
  18. current — of water
  19. ruler — a monarch
  20. rest — what's left
  21. current — electric
  22. nail — on a finger
  23. bear — the animal
  24. bear — to put up 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