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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 120 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: leaves · game · mug · fine · mine · press · cabinet · hide

  1. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  2. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  3. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  4. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  5. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  6. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  7. Did you ________________ the button?
  8. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  9. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  10. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  11. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  12. What do you think of the new ________________?
  13. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  14. Where did you ________________ them?
  15. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  16. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  17. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  18. That was a fun ________________.
  19. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  20. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  21. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  22. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  23. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  24. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.

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

Answer key

  1. fine — high quality
  2. leaves — to go away
  3. leaves — of a tree
  4. mine — an explosive
  5. press — a publisher
  6. fine — a penalty
  7. press — to push
  8. mine — belonging to me
  9. fine — all right
  10. hide — to keep secret
  11. mine — for digging
  12. cabinet — ministers
  13. game — wild animals
  14. mug — to rob
  15. leaves — lets stay
  16. mug — a face
  17. game — a kind of play
  18. game — a match
  19. hide — to keep secret
  20. mug — a cup
  21. press — newspapers
  22. hide — animal skin
  23. cabinet — a cupboard
  24. cabinet — ministers

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