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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. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  2. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  3. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  4. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  5. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  6. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  7. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  8. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  9. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  10. Did you ________________ the button?
  11. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  12. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  13. When will it ________________ you to start?
  14. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  15. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  16. She's very handy with a ________________.
  17. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  18. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  19. He works in a ________________ mill.
  20. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  21. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  22. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  23. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  24. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.

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

Answer key

  1. snap — to speak sharply
  2. pitch — a sports field
  3. pitch — a sales talk
  4. snap — to snap out of it
  5. press — newspapers
  6. deal — a big deal
  7. can — a tin
  8. press — a publisher
  9. suit — in cards
  10. press — to push
  11. deal — an agreement
  12. saw — past of 'see'
  13. suit — to fit
  14. can — a tin
  15. can — to be able to
  16. saw — the tool
  17. deal — to handle
  18. mark — to pay attention
  19. saw — the tool
  20. mark — a grade
  21. mark — a trace
  22. snap — to click
  23. pitch — completely
  24. suit — clothes

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