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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 works in a ________________ mill.
  2. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  3. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  4. The water is too ________________.
  5. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  6. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  7. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  8. That must've been a ________________.
  9. She's very handy with a ________________.
  10. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  11. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  12. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  13. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  14. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  15. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  16. This piece is in a major ________________.
  17. There's no middle ________________.
  18. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  19. Its rival in the ________________ War, the Soviet Union, exploited this at the time.
  20. Did you ________________ the button?
  21. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  22. I had a bad ________________ and was in bed for a week.
  23. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  24. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.

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

Answer key

  1. saw — the tool
  2. saw — past of 'see'
  3. leaves — to go away
  4. cold — not warm
  5. staff — employees
  6. leaves — of a tree
  7. rush — to hurry
  8. rush — a thrill
  9. saw — the tool
  10. press — newspapers
  11. ground — the earth
  12. staff — a stick
  13. rush — hurry
  14. staff — employees
  15. key — the most important part
  16. key — in music
  17. ground — a position
  18. key — for a lock
  19. cold — the Cold War
  20. press — to push
  21. ground — crushed
  22. cold — an illness
  23. leaves — lets stay
  24. press — a publisher

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