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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. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  2. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  3. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  4. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  5. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  6. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  7. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  8. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  9. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  10. She's very handy with a ________________.
  11. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  12. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  13. Have you found your soul ________________?
  14. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  15. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  16. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  17. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  18. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  19. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  20. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  21. He works in a ________________ mill.
  22. Did you ________________ the button?
  23. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  24. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.

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

Answer key

  1. lash — to lash out
  2. press — newspapers
  3. ruler — for measuring
  4. mate — a friend
  5. foot — a measure
  6. track — a path
  7. ruler — for measuring
  8. lash — an eyelash
  9. track — a song
  10. saw — the tool
  11. foot — the bottom
  12. ruler — a monarch
  13. mate — a partner
  14. prune — to trim
  15. prune — the fruit
  16. lash — a whip stroke
  17. saw — past of 'see'
  18. foot — part of the body
  19. track — to keep track
  20. press — a publisher
  21. saw — the tool
  22. press — to push
  23. mate — to breed
  24. prune — to trim

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