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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: press · board · pitcher · stick · sharp · clip · mouse · temple

  1. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  2. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  3. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  4. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  5. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  6. It's one o'clock ________________.
  7. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  8. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  9. Hold the papers together with a ________________.
  10. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  11. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  12. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  13. How can I extract the audio from a video ________________?
  14. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  15. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  16. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  17. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  18. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  19. When was this ________________ built?
  20. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  21. He is an ace ________________.
  22. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  23. Did you ________________ the button?
  24. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — the animal
  2. sharp — clever
  3. temple — a place of worship
  4. temple — side of the head
  5. mouse — the animal
  6. sharp — exactly
  7. sharp — with an edge
  8. stick — to attach or keep to
  9. clip — for paper
  10. board — a committee
  11. press — newspapers
  12. stick — a piece of wood
  13. clip — a video
  14. board — to get on
  15. pitcher — a jug
  16. press — a publisher
  17. stick — a piece of wood
  18. board — a flat piece
  19. temple — a place of worship
  20. pitcher — a jug
  21. pitcher — in baseball
  22. mouse — for a computer
  23. press — to push
  24. clip — to cut

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