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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
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: game · rock · pitcher · ball · staff · bound · calf · press

  1. The King held a masked ________________.
  2. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  3. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  4. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  5. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  6. That was a fun ________________.
  7. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  8. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  9. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  10. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  11. He is an ace ________________.
  12. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  13. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  14. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  15. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  16. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  17. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  18. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  19. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  20. Did you ________________ the button?
  21. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  22. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  23. That was ________________ to happen.
  24. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.

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

Answer key

  1. ball — a dance
  2. press — newspapers
  3. rock — music
  4. pitcher — a jug
  5. staff — employees
  6. game — a match
  7. game — wild animals
  8. bound — tied together
  9. ball — a great time
  10. rock — a stone
  11. pitcher — in baseball
  12. staff — employees
  13. ball — a round shape
  14. staff — a stick
  15. bound — obliged
  16. game — a kind of play
  17. calf — of the leg
  18. calf — a young animal
  19. pitcher — a jug
  20. press — to push
  21. calf — a young animal
  22. rock — to move gently
  23. bound — certain
  24. press — a publisher

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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