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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. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  2. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  3. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  4. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  5. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  6. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  7. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  8. Did you ________________ the button?
  9. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  10. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  11. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  12. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  13. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  14. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  15. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  16. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  17. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  18. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  19. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  20. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  21. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  22. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  23. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  24. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.

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

Answer key

  1. face — to point toward
  2. mouse — the animal
  3. squash — the vegetable
  4. face — to confront
  5. band — a music group
  6. squash — to crush
  7. mouse — the animal
  8. press — to push
  9. squash — the sport
  10. mouse — for a computer
  11. press — a publisher
  12. fine — high quality
  13. fine — a penalty
  14. band — a rubber band
  15. press — newspapers
  16. face — part of the head
  17. band — a ring
  18. wake — a trail
  19. fine — all right
  20. wake — to stop sleeping
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. wake — before a funeral
  23. safe — a strongbox
  24. safe — out of danger

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