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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. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  2. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  3. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  4. The ________________ market has crashed.
  5. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  6. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  7. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  8. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  9. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  10. She's very handy with a ________________.
  11. Did you ________________ the meat?
  12. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  13. Have you met the new head ________________?
  14. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  15. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  16. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  17. Where did you ________________ them?
  18. Did you ________________ the button?
  19. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  20. He works in a ________________ mill.
  21. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  22. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  23. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  24. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?

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

Answer key

  1. season — in sport
  2. coach — a trainer
  3. ruler — for measuring
  4. stock — shares
  5. stock — a soup base
  6. ruler — a monarch
  7. mug — a cup
  8. saw — past of 'see'
  9. mug — a face
  10. saw — the tool
  11. season — to add flavour
  12. fan — to cool the air
  13. coach — a trainer
  14. stock — goods
  15. fan — a supporter
  16. ruler — for measuring
  17. mug — to rob
  18. press — to push
  19. fan — a supporter
  20. saw — the tool
  21. press — newspapers
  22. season — of the year
  23. press — a publisher
  24. coach — pulled by horses

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