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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 120 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. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  4. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  5. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  6. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  7. Did you ________________ the button?
  8. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  9. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  10. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  11. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  12. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  13. When was this ________________ built?
  14. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  15. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  16. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  17. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  18. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  19. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  20. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  21. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  22. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  23. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  24. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.

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. band — a music group
  4. face — to point toward
  5. content — the amount
  6. temple — a place of worship
  7. press — to push
  8. temple — side of the head
  9. band — a rubber band
  10. face — part of the head
  11. face — to confront
  12. mark — to pay attention
  13. temple — a place of worship
  14. lash — an eyelash
  15. band — a ring
  16. bass — low music
  17. mark — a grade
  18. bass — the fish
  19. content — videos and posts
  20. bass — the instrument
  21. content — happy
  22. lash — to lash out
  23. mark — a trace
  24. press — a publisher

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