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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. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  2. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  3. What do you think of the new ________________?
  4. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  5. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  6. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  7. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  8. The ________________ went through the wall.
  9. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  10. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  11. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  12. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  13. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  14. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  15. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  16. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  17. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  18. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  19. Did you ________________ the button?
  20. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  21. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  22. The ________________ market has crashed.
  23. When will it ________________ you to start?
  24. You can't go backstage without a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. suit — clothes
  2. pass — to succeed
  3. cabinet — ministers
  4. field — for sport
  5. field — a subject
  6. nail — on a finger
  7. cabinet — ministers
  8. nail — for a hammer
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. stock — goods
  11. suit — in cards
  12. nail — for a hammer
  13. pass — to spend time
  14. press — a publisher
  15. press — newspapers
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. field — farmland
  18. stock — a soup base
  19. press — to push
  20. cabinet — a cupboard
  21. safe — a strongbox
  22. stock — shares
  23. suit — to fit
  24. pass — a permit

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