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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. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  2. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  3. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.
  4. Did you ________________ the button?
  5. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  6. When are we going to ________________?
  7. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  8. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  9. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  10. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  11. He works in a ________________ mill.
  12. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  13. Where did you ________________ them?
  14. She's very handy with a ________________.
  15. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  16. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  17. We're on a ________________ here.
  18. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  19. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  20. How can I extract the audio from a video ________________?
  21. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  22. Hold the papers together with a ________________.
  23. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  24. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.

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

Answer key

  1. mug — a face
  2. press — newspapers
  3. clip — to cut
  4. press — to push
  5. vault — an arched ceiling
  6. land — to come down
  7. mouse — the animal
  8. land — a country
  9. mouse — for a computer
  10. roll — a list
  11. saw — the tool
  12. vault — a safe
  13. mug — to rob
  14. saw — the tool
  15. mug — a cup
  16. vault — in gymnastics
  17. roll — on a roll
  18. mouse — the animal
  19. land — ground
  20. clip — a video
  21. saw — past of 'see'
  22. clip — for paper
  23. roll — a cake
  24. press — a publisher

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