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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.

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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: rush · net · straw · spell · mug · press · safe · swing

  1. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  2. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  3. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  4. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  5. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  6. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  7. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  8. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  9. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  10. Where did you ________________ them?
  11. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  12. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  13. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  14. Did you ________________ the button?
  15. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  16. David sat on the ________________.
  17. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  18. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  19. That must've been a ________________.
  20. How do you ________________ your surname?
  21. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  22. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  23. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  24. He has no idea where the ________________ is.

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

Answer key

  1. straw — dry grass
  2. press — newspapers
  3. swing — in golf
  4. straw — to clutch at straws
  5. rush — to hurry
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. mug — a face
  8. mug — a cup
  9. straw — a straw man
  10. mug — to rob
  11. net — for catching
  12. spell — a short time
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. press — to push
  15. press — a publisher
  16. swing — to play on
  17. net — after costs
  18. net — in sport
  19. rush — a thrill
  20. spell — letters
  21. swing — music
  22. rush — hurry
  23. spell — magic
  24. safe — a strongbox

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