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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: press · saw · arm · bulb · pitch · fine · mug · face

  1. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  2. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  3. My father caught me by the ________________.
  4. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  5. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  6. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  7. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  8. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  9. He works in a ________________ mill.
  10. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  11. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  12. The light ________________ burned out.
  13. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  14. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  15. She's very handy with a ________________.
  16. I've got to change the light ________________.
  17. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  18. Where did you ________________ them?
  19. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  20. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  21. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  22. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  23. Did you ________________ the button?
  24. She had a strange look on her ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. arm — a part of something
  2. fine — high quality
  3. arm — part of the body
  4. face — to point toward
  5. mug — a cup
  6. saw — past of 'see'
  7. pitch — a sales talk
  8. pitch — completely
  9. saw — the tool
  10. arm — part of the body
  11. pitch — a sports field
  12. bulb — for light
  13. fine — a penalty
  14. face — to confront
  15. saw — the tool
  16. bulb — for light
  17. mug — a face
  18. mug — to rob
  19. press — a publisher
  20. fine — all right
  21. press — newspapers
  22. bulb — of a plant
  23. press — to push
  24. face — part of the head

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