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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: lie · toast · press · root · calf · jam · spell · net

  1. Did you ________________ the button?
  2. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  3. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  4. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  5. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  6. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  7. How do you ________________ your surname?
  8. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  9. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  10. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  11. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  12. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  13. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  14. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  15. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  16. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  17. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  18. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  19. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  20. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  21. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  22. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  23. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  24. He took the fish out of the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. press — to push
  2. lie — an untruth
  3. jam — in traffic
  4. press — newspapers
  5. root — the cause
  6. toast — bread
  7. spell — letters
  8. toast — the most admired
  9. calf — a young animal
  10. toast — a drink to someone
  11. root — of a plant
  12. lie — an untruth
  13. spell — a short time
  14. lie — to recline
  15. jam — a tight spot
  16. net — after costs
  17. net — in sport
  18. jam — to spread on bread
  19. calf — of the leg
  20. root — of a word
  21. spell — magic
  22. press — a publisher
  23. calf — a young animal
  24. net — for catching

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