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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. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  2. Did you ________________ the button?
  3. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  4. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  5. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  6. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  7. We're on a ________________ here.
  8. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  9. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  10. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  11. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  12. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  13. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  14. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  15. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  16. Did you ________________ the meat?
  17. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  18. The ________________ market has crashed.
  19. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  20. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  21. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  22. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  23. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  24. The spa offers ________________ extensions.

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

Answer key

  1. toast — bread
  2. press — to push
  3. press — newspapers
  4. stock — goods
  5. stock — a soup base
  6. press — a publisher
  7. roll — on a roll
  8. bore — to drill
  9. lash — to lash out
  10. bore — gave birth
  11. can — a tin
  12. toast — a drink to someone
  13. can — a tin
  14. toast — the most admired
  15. can — to be able to
  16. season — to add flavour
  17. lash — a whip stroke
  18. stock — shares
  19. roll — a list
  20. season — in sport
  21. roll — a cake
  22. season — of the year
  23. bore — to tire
  24. lash — an eyelash

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