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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. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  2. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  3. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  4. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  5. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  6. It is only in accepting others that we can ________________ down our own barriers.
  7. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  8. Did you ________________ the meat?
  9. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  10. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  11. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  12. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  13. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  14. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  15. That was a fun ________________.
  16. I cannot shed a ________________ for that horrible man.
  17. Did you ________________ the button?
  18. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  19. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  20. That was ________________ to happen.
  21. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  22. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  23. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  24. Drying a ________________ is more honorable than shedding torrents of blood.

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

Answer key

  1. press — newspapers
  2. lash — a whip stroke
  3. can — to be able to
  4. game — a kind of play
  5. can — a tin
  6. tear — to rip
  7. season — of the year
  8. season — to add flavour
  9. foot — a measure
  10. lash — to lash out
  11. game — wild animals
  12. lash — an eyelash
  13. bound — tied together
  14. foot — part of the body
  15. game — a match
  16. tear — from crying
  17. press — to push
  18. press — a publisher
  19. can — a tin
  20. bound — certain
  21. bound — obliged
  22. season — in sport
  23. foot — the bottom
  24. tear — from crying

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