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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. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  2. We're almost out of ________________.
  3. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  4. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  5. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  6. Did you ________________ the button?
  7. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  8. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  9. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  10. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  11. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  12. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  13. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  14. That must've been a ________________.
  15. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  16. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  17. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  18. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  19. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  20. My mare is ________________ in color.
  21. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  22. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  23. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  24. You don't need to ________________ round.

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

Answer key

  1. press — a publisher
  2. pop — soda
  3. rush — hurry
  4. rock — to move gently
  5. patient — a sick person
  6. press — to push
  7. press — newspapers
  8. rock — a stone
  9. bay — a part of the sea
  10. bay — to keep at bay
  11. patient — calm and waiting
  12. mark — to pay attention
  13. present — there
  14. rush — a thrill
  15. pop — music
  16. rock — music
  17. mark — a grade
  18. present — a gift
  19. patient — a sick person
  20. bay — a horse colour
  21. mark — a trace
  22. rush — to hurry
  23. present — the time now
  24. pop — to visit

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