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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. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  2. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  3. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  4. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  5. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  6. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  7. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  8. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  9. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  10. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  11. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  12. I'll be taking the ________________.
  13. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  14. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  15. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  16. Did you ________________ the button?
  17. That must've been a ________________.
  18. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  19. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  20. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  21. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  22. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  23. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  24. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.

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

Answer key

  1. press — a publisher
  2. craft — a handicraft
  3. lash — a whip stroke
  4. bore — to drill
  5. jam — a tight spot
  6. craft — a skill
  7. rush — to hurry
  8. safe — a strongbox
  9. lash — an eyelash
  10. bore — to tire
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. tube — the underground
  13. jam — to spread on bread
  14. lash — to lash out
  15. jam — in traffic
  16. press — to push
  17. rush — a thrill
  18. rush — hurry
  19. tube — in a tire
  20. tube — a container
  21. press — newspapers
  22. craft — boats
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. bore — gave birth

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