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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. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  2. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  3. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  4. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  5. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  6. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  7. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  8. When was this ________________ built?
  9. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  10. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  11. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  12. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  13. Did you ________________ the button?
  14. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  15. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  16. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  17. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  18. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  19. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  20. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  21. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  22. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  23. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  24. The train ________________ at six o'clock.

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

Answer key

  1. net — for catching
  2. squash — the vegetable
  3. board — to get on
  4. board — a flat piece
  5. can — to be able to
  6. press — a publisher
  7. leaves — of a tree
  8. temple — a place of worship
  9. lie — to recline
  10. squash — the sport
  11. net — in sport
  12. lie — an untruth
  13. press — to push
  14. can — a tin
  15. can — a tin
  16. press — newspapers
  17. lie — an untruth
  18. temple — a place of worship
  19. leaves — lets stay
  20. net — after costs
  21. board — a committee
  22. squash — to crush
  23. temple — side of the head
  24. leaves — to go away

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