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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. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  3. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  4. It's one o'clock ________________.
  5. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  6. The ________________ went through the wall.
  7. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  8. Did you ________________ the meat?
  9. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  10. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  11. Did you ________________ the button?
  12. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  13. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  14. That was ________________ to happen.
  15. My mare is ________________ in color.
  16. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  17. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  18. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  19. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  20. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  21. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  22. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  23. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  24. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.

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

Answer key

  1. press — newspapers
  2. bound — obliged
  3. season — in sport
  4. sharp — exactly
  5. sharp — clever
  6. nail — for a hammer
  7. firm — a company
  8. season — to add flavour
  9. bay — a part of the sea
  10. cap — of ice
  11. press — to push
  12. bay — to keep at bay
  13. press — a publisher
  14. bound — certain
  15. bay — a horse colour
  16. firm — steady
  17. sharp — with an edge
  18. season — of the year
  19. nail — for a hammer
  20. cap — a hat
  21. nail — on a finger
  22. bound — tied together
  23. cap — a lid
  24. firm — decided

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