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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: pitcher · object · press · saw · key · fan · pass · bark

  1. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  2. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  3. He works in a ________________ mill.
  4. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  5. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  6. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  7. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  8. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  9. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  10. This piece is in a major ________________.
  11. He is an ace ________________.
  12. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  13. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  14. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  15. She's very handy with a ________________.
  16. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  17. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  18. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  19. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  20. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  21. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  22. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  23. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  24. Did you ________________ the button?

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

Answer key

  1. press — newspapers
  2. pass — to succeed
  3. saw — the tool
  4. object — to protest
  5. bark — of a tree
  6. pitcher — a jug
  7. saw — past of 'see'
  8. fan — a supporter
  9. bark — a dog's sound
  10. key — in music
  11. pitcher — in baseball
  12. pitcher — a jug
  13. pass — a permit
  14. key — for a lock
  15. saw — the tool
  16. press — a publisher
  17. fan — a supporter
  18. key — the most important part
  19. object — an aim
  20. fan — to cool the air
  21. pass — to spend time
  22. object — a thing
  23. bark — to shout
  24. press — to push

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