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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. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  2. That must've been a ________________.
  3. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  4. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  5. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  6. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  7. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  8. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  9. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  10. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  11. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  12. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  13. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  14. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  15. What do you think of the new ________________?
  16. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  17. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  18. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  19. Did you ________________ the meat?
  20. Did you ________________ the button?
  21. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  22. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  23. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  24. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.

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

Answer key

  1. season — in sport
  2. rush — a thrill
  3. season — of the year
  4. track — a song
  5. track — to keep track
  6. firm — steady
  7. track — a path
  8. cabinet — ministers
  9. field — farmland
  10. firm — decided
  11. press — a publisher
  12. cabinet — a cupboard
  13. lie — an untruth
  14. field — for sport
  15. cabinet — ministers
  16. lie — to recline
  17. rush — to hurry
  18. press — newspapers
  19. season — to add flavour
  20. press — to push
  21. firm — a company
  22. lie — an untruth
  23. rush — hurry
  24. field — a subject

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