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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.

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: ruler · calf · mug · chip · bass · face · pitcher · press

  1. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  2. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  3. Did you ________________ the button?
  4. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  5. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  6. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  7. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  8. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  9. Where did you ________________ them?
  10. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  11. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  12. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  13. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  14. He is an ace ________________.
  15. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  16. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  17. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  18. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  19. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  20. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  21. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  22. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  23. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  24. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.

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

Answer key

  1. bass — the instrument
  2. pitcher — a jug
  3. press — to push
  4. face — to confront
  5. press — a publisher
  6. ruler — for measuring
  7. pitcher — a jug
  8. bass — low music
  9. mug — to rob
  10. bass — the fish
  11. calf — a young animal
  12. ruler — for measuring
  13. ruler — a monarch
  14. pitcher — in baseball
  15. calf — a young animal
  16. face — part of the head
  17. chip — in a computer
  18. mug — a cup
  19. face — to point toward
  20. chip — to eat
  21. chip — for betting
  22. press — newspapers
  23. calf — of the leg
  24. mug — a face

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