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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. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  2. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  3. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  4. Did you ________________ the button?
  5. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  6. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  7. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  8. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  9. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  10. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  11. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  12. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  13. She's very handy with a ________________.
  14. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  15. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  16. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  17. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  18. He works in a ________________ mill.
  19. Did you ________________ the meat?
  20. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  21. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  22. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  23. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  24. Tom got himself in a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. file — a line of people
  2. hand — part of the body
  3. bore — to drill
  4. press — to push
  5. hide — to keep secret
  6. press — a publisher
  7. hand — help
  8. hide — to keep secret
  9. press — newspapers
  10. hand — in cards
  11. season — of the year
  12. file — a document
  13. saw — the tool
  14. season — in sport
  15. bore — gave birth
  16. hide — animal skin
  17. saw — past of 'see'
  18. saw — the tool
  19. season — to add flavour
  20. file — a tool
  21. bore — to tire
  22. jam — in traffic
  23. jam — to spread on bread
  24. jam — a tight spot

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