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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: deal · object · toast · pitcher · face · press · trunk · calf

  1. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  2. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  3. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  4. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  5. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  6. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  7. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  8. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  9. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  10. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  11. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  12. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  13. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  14. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  15. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  16. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  17. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  18. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  19. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  20. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  21. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  22. He is an ace ________________.
  23. Did you ________________ the button?
  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. deal — to handle
  2. trunk — of an elephant
  3. trunk — of a tree
  4. press — newspapers
  5. deal — an agreement
  6. object — a thing
  7. toast — a drink to someone
  8. deal — a big deal
  9. object — an aim
  10. calf — of the leg
  11. pitcher — a jug
  12. trunk — of a car
  13. object — to protest
  14. toast — the most admired
  15. calf — a young animal
  16. face — part of the head
  17. face — to point toward
  18. calf — a young animal
  19. pitcher — a jug
  20. face — to confront
  21. toast — bread
  22. pitcher — in baseball
  23. press — to push
  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