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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 116 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 ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  2. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  3. Have you found your soul ________________?
  4. There's no middle ________________.
  5. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  6. He is an ace ________________.
  7. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  8. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  9. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  10. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.
  11. Did you ________________ the button?
  12. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  13. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  14. Hold the papers together with a ________________.
  15. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  16. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  17. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  18. The ________________ market has crashed.
  19. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  20. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  21. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  22. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  23. How can I extract the audio from a video ________________?
  24. The ________________ change colour in autumn.

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

Answer key

  1. ground — the earth
  2. press — newspapers
  3. mate — a partner
  4. ground — a position
  5. mate — a friend
  6. pitcher — in baseball
  7. stock — goods
  8. press — a publisher
  9. leaves — to go away
  10. clip — to cut
  11. press — to push
  12. bass — the instrument
  13. mate — to breed
  14. clip — for paper
  15. pitcher — a jug
  16. leaves — lets stay
  17. pitcher — a jug
  18. stock — shares
  19. stock — a soup base
  20. bass — the fish
  21. bass — low music
  22. ground — crushed
  23. clip — a video
  24. leaves — of a tree

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