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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. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  2. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  3. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  4. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  5. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  6. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  7. Did you ________________ the button?
  8. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  9. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  10. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  11. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  12. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  13. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  14. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  15. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  16. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  17. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  18. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  19. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  20. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  21. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  22. Did you ________________ the meat?
  23. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  24. The train ________________ at six o'clock.

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

Answer key

  1. press — newspapers
  2. deal — a big deal
  3. press — a publisher
  4. deal — an agreement
  5. season — of the year
  6. patient — a sick person
  7. press — to push
  8. wake — to stop sleeping
  9. leaves — lets stay
  10. leaves — of a tree
  11. chair — to sit on
  12. season — in sport
  13. wake — before a funeral
  14. chair — a professorship
  15. rest — what's left
  16. chair — a leader
  17. wake — a trail
  18. deal — to handle
  19. rest — a break
  20. rest — what's left
  21. patient — a sick person
  22. season — to add flavour
  23. patient — calm and waiting
  24. leaves — to go away

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