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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. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  2. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  3. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  4. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  5. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  6. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  7. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  8. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  9. I can't ________________ this cold.
  10. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  11. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  12. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  13. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  14. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  15. Did you ________________ the button?
  16. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  17. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  18. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  19. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  20. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  21. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  22. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  23. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  24. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.

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

Answer key

  1. rule — government
  2. stand — for spectators
  3. safe — a strongbox
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. press — a publisher
  6. dip — to dunk
  7. press — newspapers
  8. hand — part of the body
  9. stand — to bear
  10. fan — a supporter
  11. can — a tin
  12. hand — in cards
  13. can — to be able to
  14. can — a tin
  15. press — to push
  16. stand — on your feet
  17. fan — a supporter
  18. fan — to cool the air
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. dip — a sauce
  21. hand — help
  22. dip — to sink
  23. rule — a law
  24. rule — to rule out

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