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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. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  2. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  3. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  4. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  5. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  6. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  7. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  8. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  9. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  10. Did you ________________ the button?
  11. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  12. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  13. She's very handy with a ________________.
  14. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  15. That must've been a ________________.
  16. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  17. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  18. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  19. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  20. He works in a ________________ mill.
  21. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  22. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  23. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  24. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. rush — to hurry
  2. press — newspapers
  3. bear — the animal
  4. rush — hurry
  5. vault — a safe
  6. vault — an arched ceiling
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. firm — steady
  9. branch — of a tree
  10. press — to push
  11. bear — to put up with
  12. press — a publisher
  13. saw — the tool
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. rush — a thrill
  16. firm — decided
  17. vault — in gymnastics
  18. firm — a company
  19. safe — a strongbox
  20. saw — the tool
  21. saw — past of 'see'
  22. branch — of a bank
  23. branch — a division
  24. bear — the animal

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