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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 120 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. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  3. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  4. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  5. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  6. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  7. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  8. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  9. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  10. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  11. Did you ________________ the button?
  12. The ________________ market has crashed.
  13. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  14. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  15. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  16. My mare is ________________ in color.
  17. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  18. When was this ________________ built?
  19. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  20. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  21. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  22. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  23. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  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. press — newspapers
  2. temple — side of the head
  3. pass — a permit
  4. temple — a place of worship
  5. wound — an injury
  6. wound — an injury
  7. wound — past of 'wind'
  8. row — a quarrel
  9. pass — to succeed
  10. pass — to spend time
  11. press — to push
  12. stock — shares
  13. bay — a part of the sea
  14. mark — a grade
  15. stock — a soup base
  16. bay — a horse colour
  17. row — to paddle
  18. temple — a place of worship
  19. row — a line
  20. bay — to keep at bay
  21. mark — a trace
  22. mark — to pay attention
  23. stock — goods
  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