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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 reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  2. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  3. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  4. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  5. That was ________________ to happen.
  6. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  7. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  8. The ________________ went through the wall.
  9. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  10. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  11. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  12. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  13. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  14. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  15. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  16. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  17. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  18. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  19. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  20. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  21. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  22. Did you ________________ the button?
  23. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  24. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.

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

Answer key

  1. bound — tied together
  2. nail — for a hammer
  3. kid — child
  4. pitch — a sports field
  5. bound — certain
  6. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  7. mouse — for a computer
  8. nail — for a hammer
  9. mouse — the animal
  10. board — a flat piece
  11. leaves — lets stay
  12. leaves — to go away
  13. press — a publisher
  14. pitch — completely
  15. nail — on a finger
  16. board — a committee
  17. pitch — a sales talk
  18. kid — to tease
  19. board — to get on
  20. leaves — of a tree
  21. bound — obliged
  22. press — to push
  23. mouse — the animal
  24. press — newspapers

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