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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 teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  2. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  3. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  4. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  5. Did you ________________ the button?
  6. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  7. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  8. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  9. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  10. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  11. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  12. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  13. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  14. When will it ________________ you to start?
  15. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  16. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  17. We're on a ________________ here.
  18. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  19. Where did you ________________ them?
  20. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  21. Don't do anything ________________.
  22. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  23. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  24. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.

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

Answer key

  1. roll — a list
  2. bear — the animal
  3. press — newspapers
  4. suit — clothes
  5. press — to push
  6. patient — calm and waiting
  7. bear — the animal
  8. suit — in cards
  9. patient — a sick person
  10. rash — on the skin
  11. squash — the vegetable
  12. mug — a face
  13. bear — to put up with
  14. suit — to fit
  15. squash — to crush
  16. roll — a cake
  17. roll — on a roll
  18. press — a publisher
  19. mug — to rob
  20. patient — a sick person
  21. rash — hasty
  22. mug — a cup
  23. squash — the sport
  24. rash — a series

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