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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. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  3. Did you ________________ the button?
  4. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  5. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  6. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  7. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  8. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  9. This piece is in a major ________________.
  10. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  11. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  12. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  13. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  14. He was locked up in a ________________.
  15. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  16. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  17. Have you found your soul ________________?
  18. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  19. When will it ________________ you to start?
  20. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  21. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  22. Where did you ________________ them?
  23. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  24. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.

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

Answer key

  1. press — newspapers
  2. mate — to breed
  3. press — to push
  4. mate — a friend
  5. cell — a phone
  6. key — the most important part
  7. cell — in biology
  8. root — of a plant
  9. key — in music
  10. fall — to drop
  11. mug — a face
  12. key — for a lock
  13. suit — in cards
  14. cell — in a prison
  15. fall — to drop
  16. press — a publisher
  17. mate — a partner
  18. suit — clothes
  19. suit — to fit
  20. fall — the season
  21. root — of a word
  22. mug — to rob
  23. mug — a cup
  24. root — the cause

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