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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
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: mug · jam · suit · deal · straw · stand · press · object

  1. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  2. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  3. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  4. I can't ________________ this cold.
  5. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  6. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  7. When will it ________________ you to start?
  8. Did you ________________ the button?
  9. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  10. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  11. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  12. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  13. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  14. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  15. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  16. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  17. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  18. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  19. Where did you ________________ them?
  20. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  21. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  22. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  23. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  24. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.

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

Answer key

  1. mug — a cup
  2. press — a publisher
  3. straw — to clutch at straws
  4. stand — to bear
  5. straw — a straw man
  6. jam — in traffic
  7. suit — to fit
  8. press — to push
  9. stand — on your feet
  10. jam — to spread on bread
  11. object — to protest
  12. deal — an agreement
  13. object — an aim
  14. suit — in cards
  15. deal — to handle
  16. suit — clothes
  17. press — newspapers
  18. mug — a face
  19. mug — to rob
  20. jam — a tight spot
  21. stand — for spectators
  22. straw — dry grass
  23. deal — a big deal
  24. object — a thing

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