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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 116 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. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  2. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  3. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  4. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  5. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  6. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  7. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  8. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  9. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  10. Did you ________________ the button?
  11. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  12. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  13. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  14. That was ________________ to happen.
  15. How do you ________________ your surname?
  16. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  17. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  18. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  19. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  20. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  21. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  22. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  23. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  24. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. spell — a short time
  2. fan — to cool the air
  3. press — newspapers
  4. firm — steady
  5. can — to be able to
  6. bound — tied together
  7. bore — to drill
  8. can — a tin
  9. spell — magic
  10. press — to push
  11. fan — a supporter
  12. fan — a supporter
  13. can — a tin
  14. bound — certain
  15. spell — letters
  16. shower — rain
  17. bound — obliged
  18. bore — to tire
  19. shower — to wash
  20. shower — a meteor shower
  21. firm — decided
  22. bore — gave birth
  23. press — a publisher
  24. firm — a company

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