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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.

Make a worksheet

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: press · cabinet · snap · spell · calf · wake · safe · saw

  1. Did you ________________ the button?
  2. She's very handy with a ________________.
  3. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  4. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  5. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  6. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  7. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  8. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  9. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  10. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  11. How do you ________________ your surname?
  12. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  13. He works in a ________________ mill.
  14. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  15. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  16. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  17. What do you think of the new ________________?
  18. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  19. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  20. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  21. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  22. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  23. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  24. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.

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

Answer key

  1. press — to push
  2. saw — the tool
  3. press — a publisher
  4. snap — to speak sharply
  5. snap — to snap out of it
  6. cabinet — a cupboard
  7. snap — to click
  8. saw — past of 'see'
  9. spell — a short time
  10. calf — of the leg
  11. spell — letters
  12. press — newspapers
  13. saw — the tool
  14. calf — a young animal
  15. cabinet — ministers
  16. wake — a trail
  17. cabinet — ministers
  18. wake — before a funeral
  19. wake — to stop sleeping
  20. calf — a young animal
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. spell — magic
  23. safe — a strongbox
  24. safe — out of danger

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