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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. How do you ________________ your surname?
  2. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  3. It's one o'clock ________________.
  4. False peace will not ________________.
  5. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  6. I can't ________________ this cold.
  7. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  8. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  9. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  10. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  11. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  12. Did you ________________ the button?
  13. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  14. That was ________________ to happen.
  15. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  16. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  17. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  18. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  19. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  20. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  21. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  22. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  23. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  24. This knife is not ________________ enough.

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

Answer key

  1. spell — letters
  2. bowl — to roll
  3. sharp — exactly
  4. last — to go on
  5. bowl — a football final
  6. stand — to bear
  7. hide — to keep secret
  8. sharp — clever
  9. press — newspapers
  10. bound — tied together
  11. stand — for spectators
  12. press — to push
  13. stand — on your feet
  14. bound — certain
  15. spell — a short time
  16. hide — animal skin
  17. last — finally
  18. bowl — a dish
  19. press — a publisher
  20. spell — magic
  21. hide — to keep secret
  22. last — final
  23. bound — obliged
  24. sharp — with an edge

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