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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 116 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
468
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: wake · object · march · cabinet · press · bore · mug · can

  1. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  2. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  3. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  4. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  5. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  6. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  7. What do you think of the new ________________?
  8. Did you ________________ the button?
  9. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  10. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  11. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  12. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  13. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  14. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  15. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  16. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  17. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  18. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  19. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  20. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  21. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  22. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  23. Where did you ________________ them?
  24. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.

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

Answer key

  1. mug — a face
  2. bore — to drill
  3. object — an aim
  4. wake — before a funeral
  5. cabinet — ministers
  6. wake — a trail
  7. cabinet — ministers
  8. press — to push
  9. cabinet — a cupboard
  10. can — a tin
  11. object — a thing
  12. bore — to tire
  13. object — to protest
  14. press — newspapers
  15. march — the month
  16. wake — to stop sleeping
  17. press — a publisher
  18. mug — a cup
  19. march — music
  20. march — the month
  21. can — to be able to
  22. can — a tin
  23. mug — to rob
  24. bore — gave birth

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