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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.

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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: safe · deal · press · season · pitcher · rock · can · wound

  1. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  2. He is an ace ________________.
  3. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  4. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  5. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  6. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  7. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  8. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  9. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  10. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  11. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  12. Did you ________________ the button?
  13. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  14. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  15. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  16. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  17. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  18. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  19. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  20. Did you ________________ the meat?
  21. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  22. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  23. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  24. Fill up this ________________ with water.

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

Answer key

  1. press — newspapers
  2. pitcher — in baseball
  3. can — a tin
  4. season — in sport
  5. can — a tin
  6. can — to be able to
  7. wound — past of 'wind'
  8. wound — an injury
  9. deal — a big deal
  10. rock — to move gently
  11. rock — music
  12. press — to push
  13. rock — a stone
  14. pitcher — a jug
  15. season — of the year
  16. deal — to handle
  17. press — a publisher
  18. deal — an agreement
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. season — to add flavour
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. safe — a strongbox
  23. wound — an injury
  24. pitcher — a jug

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