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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. We're on a ________________ here.
  2. She's very handy with a ________________.
  3. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  4. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  5. Did you ________________ the button?
  6. He works in a ________________ mill.
  7. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  8. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  9. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  10. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  11. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  12. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  13. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  14. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  15. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  16. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  17. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  18. We're almost out of ________________.
  19. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  20. You don't need to ________________ round.
  21. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  22. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  23. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  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. roll — on a roll
  2. saw — the tool
  3. track — a path
  4. press — newspapers
  5. press — to push
  6. saw — the tool
  7. mark — a trace
  8. rock — music
  9. saw — past of 'see'
  10. mark — to pay attention
  11. roll — a cake
  12. mark — a grade
  13. rock — a stone
  14. spring — a coil
  15. roll — a list
  16. track — a song
  17. spring — of water
  18. pop — soda
  19. rock — to move gently
  20. pop — to visit
  21. pop — music
  22. spring — the season
  23. track — to keep track
  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