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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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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: nail · deal · saw · press · bank · pit · key · wound

  1. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  2. He works in a ________________ mill.
  3. She's very handy with a ________________.
  4. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  5. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  6. This piece is in a major ________________.
  7. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  8. Did you ________________ the button?
  9. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  10. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  11. The ________________ went through the wall.
  12. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  13. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  14. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  15. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  16. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  17. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  18. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  19. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  20. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  21. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  22. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  23. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  24. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.

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

Answer key

  1. press — a publisher
  2. saw — the tool
  3. saw — the tool
  4. deal — a big deal
  5. press — newspapers
  6. key — in music
  7. saw — past of 'see'
  8. press — to push
  9. pit — in a race
  10. nail — on a finger
  11. nail — for a hammer
  12. wound — an injury
  13. key — for a lock
  14. key — the most important part
  15. nail — for a hammer
  16. wound — past of 'wind'
  17. wound — an injury
  18. pit — a fruit stone
  19. pit — a hole
  20. bank — for money
  21. deal — to handle
  22. bank — of a river
  23. bank — for money
  24. deal — an agreement

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