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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. He works in a ________________ mill.
  2. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  3. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  4. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  5. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  6. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  7. Did you ________________ the button?
  8. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  9. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  10. She's very handy with a ________________.
  11. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  12. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  13. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  14. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  15. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  16. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  17. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  18. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  19. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  20. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  21. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  22. When will it ________________ you to start?
  23. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  24. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.

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

Answer key

  1. saw — the tool
  2. bore — gave birth
  3. content — happy
  4. suit — clothes
  5. perch — for a bird
  6. bore — to tire
  7. press — to push
  8. content — videos and posts
  9. suit — in cards
  10. saw — the tool
  11. bore — to drill
  12. content — the amount
  13. press — newspapers
  14. perch — for a bird
  15. saw — past of 'see'
  16. net — for catching
  17. fall — to drop
  18. net — after costs
  19. fall — the season
  20. net — in sport
  21. perch — the fish
  22. suit — to fit
  23. fall — to drop
  24. press — a publisher

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