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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. Did you ________________ the button?
  2. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  3. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  4. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  5. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  6. She's very handy with a ________________.
  7. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  8. I'll be taking the ________________.
  9. The tickets are free of ________________.
  10. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  11. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  12. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  13. He works in a ________________ mill.
  14. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  15. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  16. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  17. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  18. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  19. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  20. Did you ________________ the meat?
  21. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  22. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  23. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  24. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.

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

Answer key

  1. press — to push
  2. squash — to crush
  3. squash — the vegetable
  4. racket — for tennis
  5. squash — the sport
  6. saw — the tool
  7. bore — to tire
  8. tube — the underground
  9. charge — a price
  10. season — of the year
  11. charge — electricity
  12. racket — a loud noise
  13. saw — the tool
  14. tube — a container
  15. press — newspapers
  16. bore — to drill
  17. bore — gave birth
  18. saw — past of 'see'
  19. press — a publisher
  20. season — to add flavour
  21. charge — in control
  22. racket — for tennis
  23. season — in sport
  24. tube — in a tire

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