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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. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  2. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  3. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  4. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  5. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  6. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  7. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  8. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  9. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  10. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  11. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  12. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  13. Did you ________________ the button?
  14. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  15. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  16. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  17. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  18. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  19. How do you ________________ your surname?
  20. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  21. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  22. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  23. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  24. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.

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

Answer key

  1. press — a publisher
  2. scale — size or range
  3. file — a line of people
  4. scale — in music
  5. staff — employees
  6. track — a path
  7. staff — a stick
  8. calf — of the leg
  9. file — a tool
  10. can — to be able to
  11. calf — a young animal
  12. track — to keep track
  13. press — to push
  14. scale — for weighing
  15. calf — a young animal
  16. staff — employees
  17. spell — a short time
  18. track — a song
  19. spell — letters
  20. can — a tin
  21. file — a document
  22. spell — magic
  23. can — a tin
  24. press — newspapers

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