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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
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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: bear · trunk · press · pass · wound · mouse · key · staff

  1. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  2. This piece is in a major ________________.
  3. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  4. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  5. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  6. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  7. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  8. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  9. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  10. Did you ________________ the button?
  11. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  12. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  13. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  14. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  15. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  16. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  17. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  18. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  19. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  20. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  21. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  22. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  23. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  24. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.

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

Answer key

  1. bear — the animal
  2. key — in music
  3. mouse — the animal
  4. pass — a permit
  5. bear — to put up with
  6. press — a publisher
  7. mouse — for a computer
  8. pass — to succeed
  9. trunk — of a tree
  10. press — to push
  11. key — the most important part
  12. wound — past of 'wind'
  13. trunk — of a car
  14. bear — the animal
  15. staff — a stick
  16. key — for a lock
  17. trunk — of an elephant
  18. wound — an injury
  19. mouse — the animal
  20. pass — to spend time
  21. staff — employees
  22. staff — employees
  23. wound — an injury
  24. press — newspapers

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