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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 120 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. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  2. Did you ________________ the button?
  3. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  4. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  5. The ________________ took off on time.
  6. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  7. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  8. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  9. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  10. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  11. The ball is in your ________________.
  12. Don't do anything ________________.
  13. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  14. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  15. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  16. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  17. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  18. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  19. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  20. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  21. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  22. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  23. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  24. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?

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

Answer key

  1. court — of a king
  2. press — to push
  3. pitch — a sports field
  4. branch — of a tree
  5. plane — an aircraft
  6. rash — on the skin
  7. rock — a stone
  8. can — to be able to
  9. rock — to move gently
  10. press — newspapers
  11. court — for sport
  12. rash — hasty
  13. branch — of a bank
  14. can — a tin
  15. plane — a tool
  16. branch — a division
  17. press — a publisher
  18. rash — a series
  19. pitch — a sales talk
  20. plane — in geometry
  21. pitch — completely
  22. court — of law
  23. can — a tin
  24. rock — music

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