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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.

Words on the sheet
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Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: cold · deal · bear · plane · cabinet · sharp · pitcher · press

  1. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  2. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  3. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  4. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  5. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  6. Its rival in the ________________ War, the Soviet Union, exploited this at the time.
  7. I had a bad ________________ and was in bed for a week.
  8. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  9. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  10. He is an ace ________________.
  11. Did you ________________ the button?
  12. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  13. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  14. The ________________ took off on time.
  15. The water is too ________________.
  16. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  17. What do you think of the new ________________?
  18. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  19. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  20. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  21. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  22. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  23. It's one o'clock ________________.
  24. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — a cupboard
  2. press — newspapers
  3. plane — a tool
  4. cabinet — ministers
  5. pitcher — a jug
  6. cold — the Cold War
  7. cold — an illness
  8. sharp — clever
  9. bear — the animal
  10. pitcher — in baseball
  11. press — to push
  12. deal — to handle
  13. plane — in geometry
  14. plane — an aircraft
  15. cold — not warm
  16. bear — to put up with
  17. cabinet — ministers
  18. sharp — with an edge
  19. pitcher — a jug
  20. bear — the animal
  21. press — a publisher
  22. deal — an agreement
  23. sharp — exactly
  24. deal — a big deal

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