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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. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  2. Did you ________________ the button?
  3. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  4. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  5. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  6. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  7. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  8. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  9. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  10. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  11. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  12. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  13. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  14. The ________________ market has crashed.
  15. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  16. The King held a masked ________________.
  17. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  18. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  19. There's no middle ________________.
  20. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  21. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  22. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  23. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  24. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. scale — in music
  2. press — to push
  3. press — newspapers
  4. calf — a young animal
  5. stock — goods
  6. press — a publisher
  7. scale — size or range
  8. ground — the earth
  9. calf — of the leg
  10. face — part of the head
  11. stock — a soup base
  12. object — a thing
  13. face — to confront
  14. stock — shares
  15. object — to protest
  16. ball — a dance
  17. ground — crushed
  18. ball — a great time
  19. ground — a position
  20. scale — for weighing
  21. calf — a young animal
  22. face — to point toward
  23. ball — a round shape
  24. object — an aim

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