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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 function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  2. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  3. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  4. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  5. It's one o'clock ________________.
  6. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  7. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  8. Where did you ________________ them?
  9. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  10. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  11. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  12. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  13. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  14. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  15. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  16. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  17. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  18. Did you ________________ the button?
  19. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  20. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  21. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  22. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  23. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  24. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.

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

Answer key

  1. press — newspapers
  2. bark — of a tree
  3. pitch — a sports field
  4. leaves — of a tree
  5. sharp — exactly
  6. pitch — completely
  7. bark — a dog's sound
  8. mug — to rob
  9. bark — to shout
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. mug — a face
  12. root — of a word
  13. sharp — clever
  14. leaves — to go away
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. pitch — a sales talk
  17. leaves — lets stay
  18. press — to push
  19. root — of a plant
  20. mug — a cup
  21. safe — a strongbox
  22. sharp — with an edge
  23. press — a publisher
  24. root — the cause

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