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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. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  2. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  3. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  4. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  5. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  6. Did you ________________ the button?
  7. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  8. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  9. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  10. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  11. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  12. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  13. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  14. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  15. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  16. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  17. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  18. We're on a ________________ here.
  19. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  20. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  21. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  22. How do you ________________ your surname?
  23. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  24. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. toast — the most admired
  2. bank — of a river
  3. deal — to handle
  4. roll — a list
  5. bank — for money
  6. press — to push
  7. press — newspapers
  8. rest — what's left
  9. deal — a big deal
  10. track — to keep track
  11. press — a publisher
  12. rest — what's left
  13. rest — a break
  14. toast — bread
  15. toast — a drink to someone
  16. deal — an agreement
  17. spell — a short time
  18. roll — on a roll
  19. bank — for money
  20. track — a song
  21. track — a path
  22. spell — letters
  23. spell — magic
  24. roll — a cake

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