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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: wound · press · leaves · mouse · mate · mug · ball · pitcher

  1. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  2. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  3. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  4. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  5. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  6. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  7. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  8. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  9. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  10. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  11. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  12. He is an ace ________________.
  13. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  14. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  15. Have you found your soul ________________?
  16. Did you ________________ the button?
  17. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  18. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  19. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  20. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  21. Where did you ________________ them?
  22. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  23. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  24. The King held a masked ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mate — to breed
  2. wound — an injury
  3. leaves — to go away
  4. press — newspapers
  5. wound — an injury
  6. mouse — the animal
  7. mouse — the animal
  8. ball — a round shape
  9. leaves — of a tree
  10. press — a publisher
  11. pitcher — a jug
  12. pitcher — in baseball
  13. ball — a great time
  14. leaves — lets stay
  15. mate — a partner
  16. press — to push
  17. wound — past of 'wind'
  18. mouse — for a computer
  19. mug — a face
  20. mate — a friend
  21. mug — to rob
  22. pitcher — a jug
  23. mug — a cup
  24. ball — a dance

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