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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. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  2. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  3. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  4. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  5. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  6. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  7. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  8. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  9. When was this ________________ built?
  10. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  11. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  12. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  13. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  14. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  15. That must've been a ________________.
  16. Have you found your soul ________________?
  17. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  18. That was a fun ________________.
  19. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  20. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  21. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  22. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  23. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  24. Did you ________________ the button?

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

Answer key

  1. press — newspapers
  2. object — an aim
  3. face — to point toward
  4. spring — of water
  5. rush — hurry
  6. spring — a coil
  7. mate — to breed
  8. face — to confront
  9. temple — a place of worship
  10. object — to protest
  11. game — wild animals
  12. temple — side of the head
  13. press — a publisher
  14. rush — to hurry
  15. rush — a thrill
  16. mate — a partner
  17. object — a thing
  18. game — a match
  19. spring — the season
  20. temple — a place of worship
  21. game — a kind of play
  22. face — part of the head
  23. mate — a friend
  24. press — to push

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