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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.

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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: press · last · fine · bore · sharp · saw · bear · track

  1. It's one o'clock ________________.
  2. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  3. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  4. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  5. False peace will not ________________.
  6. Did you ________________ the button?
  7. He works in a ________________ mill.
  8. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  9. She's very handy with a ________________.
  10. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  11. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  12. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  13. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  14. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  15. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  16. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  17. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  18. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  19. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  20. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  21. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  22. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  23. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  24. This knife is not ________________ enough.

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

Answer key

  1. sharp — exactly
  2. press — newspapers
  3. bore — to drill
  4. last — final
  5. last — to go on
  6. press — to push
  7. saw — the tool
  8. fine — a penalty
  9. saw — the tool
  10. bear — the animal
  11. track — to keep track
  12. fine — all right
  13. bear — the animal
  14. bear — to put up with
  15. saw — past of 'see'
  16. track — a path
  17. bore — to tire
  18. fine — high quality
  19. last — finally
  20. track — a song
  21. press — a publisher
  22. sharp — clever
  23. bore — gave birth
  24. sharp — with an edge

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