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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 function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  2. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  3. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  4. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  5. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  6. Have you found your soul ________________?
  7. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  8. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  9. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  10. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  11. This piece is in a major ________________.
  12. The ________________ took off on time.
  13. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  14. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  15. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  16. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  17. Where did you ________________ them?
  18. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  19. How do you ________________ your surname?
  20. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  21. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  22. When are we going to ________________?
  23. Did you ________________ the button?
  24. Hard work is the ________________ to success.

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

Answer key

  1. press — newspapers
  2. mug — a cup
  3. spell — magic
  4. mate — to breed
  5. land — ground
  6. mate — a partner
  7. land — a country
  8. plane — a tool
  9. leaves — of a tree
  10. key — for a lock
  11. key — in music
  12. plane — an aircraft
  13. spell — a short time
  14. press — a publisher
  15. leaves — lets stay
  16. plane — in geometry
  17. mug — to rob
  18. leaves — to go away
  19. spell — letters
  20. mug — a face
  21. mate — a friend
  22. land — to come down
  23. press — to push
  24. key — the most important part

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