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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: tear · saw · hide · coach · content · jam · press · nail

  1. He works in a ________________ mill.
  2. The ________________ went through the wall.
  3. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  4. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  5. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  6. It is only in accepting others that we can ________________ down our own barriers.
  7. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  8. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  9. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  10. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  11. I cannot shed a ________________ for that horrible man.
  12. Drying a ________________ is more honorable than shedding torrents of blood.
  13. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  14. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  15. Did you ________________ the button?
  16. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  17. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  18. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  19. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  20. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  21. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  22. She's very handy with a ________________.
  23. Have you met the new head ________________?
  24. Tom got himself in a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. saw — the tool
  2. nail — for a hammer
  3. jam — in traffic
  4. hide — to keep secret
  5. saw — past of 'see'
  6. tear — to rip
  7. content — videos and posts
  8. press — newspapers
  9. coach — pulled by horses
  10. coach — a trainer
  11. tear — from crying
  12. tear — from crying
  13. press — a publisher
  14. hide — animal skin
  15. press — to push
  16. jam — to spread on bread
  17. nail — on a finger
  18. hide — to keep secret
  19. content — the amount
  20. nail — for a hammer
  21. content — happy
  22. saw — the tool
  23. coach — a trainer
  24. jam — a tight spot

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