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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've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  2. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  3. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  4. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  5. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  6. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  7. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  8. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  9. How do you ________________ your surname?
  10. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  11. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  12. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  13. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  14. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  15. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  16. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  17. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  18. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  19. Did you ________________ the button?
  20. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  21. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  22. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  23. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  24. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. spell — a short time
  2. lean — to rest against
  3. net — for catching
  4. leaves — lets stay
  5. fall — to drop
  6. leaves — to go away
  7. press — newspapers
  8. net — in sport
  9. spell — letters
  10. press — a publisher
  11. net — after costs
  12. jam — a tight spot
  13. fall — to drop
  14. calf — of the leg
  15. lean — thin
  16. calf — a young animal
  17. lean — to bend
  18. leaves — of a tree
  19. press — to push
  20. calf — a young animal
  21. jam — to spread on bread
  22. jam — in traffic
  23. fall — the season
  24. spell — magic

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