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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. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  3. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  4. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  5. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  6. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  7. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  8. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  9. Did you ________________ the button?
  10. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  11. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  12. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  13. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  14. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  15. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  16. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  17. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  18. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  19. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  20. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  21. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  22. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  23. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  24. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.

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

Answer key

  1. press — newspapers
  2. rock — a stone
  3. toast — the most admired
  4. press — a publisher
  5. fork — to eat with
  6. toast — a drink to someone
  7. ruler — for measuring
  8. object — to protest
  9. press — to push
  10. staff — employees
  11. object — a thing
  12. fork — in a road
  13. toast — bread
  14. ruler — for measuring
  15. rock — to move gently
  16. rock — music
  17. ruler — a monarch
  18. wake — to stop sleeping
  19. staff — employees
  20. fork — a garden tool
  21. object — an aim
  22. staff — a stick
  23. wake — a trail
  24. wake — before a funeral

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