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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. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  2. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  3. The ball is in your ________________.
  4. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  5. Did you ________________ the button?
  6. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  7. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  8. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  9. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  10. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  11. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  12. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  13. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  14. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  15. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  16. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  17. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  18. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  19. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  20. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  21. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  22. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  23. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  24. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.

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

Answer key

  1. rest — what's left
  2. press — newspapers
  3. court — for sport
  4. court — of a king
  5. press — to push
  6. bowl — to roll
  7. calf — of the leg
  8. rock — to move gently
  9. row — to paddle
  10. row — a quarrel
  11. calf — a young animal
  12. rock — a stone
  13. rest — what's left
  14. row — a line
  15. court — of law
  16. lash — a whip stroke
  17. lash — an eyelash
  18. rest — a break
  19. rock — music
  20. press — a publisher
  21. bowl — a dish
  22. calf — a young animal
  23. lash — to lash out
  24. bowl — a football final

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