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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 coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  2. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  3. Did you ________________ the button?
  4. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  5. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  6. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  7. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  8. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  9. The ________________ went through the wall.
  10. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  11. Have you met the new head ________________?
  12. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  13. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  14. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  15. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  16. My father caught me by the ________________.
  17. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  18. David sat on the ________________.
  19. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  20. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  21. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  22. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  23. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  24. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.

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

Answer key

  1. swing — in golf
  2. press — newspapers
  3. press — to push
  4. file — a tool
  5. press — a publisher
  6. file — a line of people
  7. nail — on a finger
  8. racket — for tennis
  9. nail — for a hammer
  10. ruler — for measuring
  11. coach — a trainer
  12. arm — part of the body
  13. ruler — a monarch
  14. ruler — for measuring
  15. swing — music
  16. arm — part of the body
  17. racket — a loud noise
  18. swing — to play on
  19. coach — pulled by horses
  20. racket — for tennis
  21. file — a document
  22. arm — a part of something
  23. nail — for a hammer
  24. coach — a trainer

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