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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: deal · track · saw · wound · mug · press · bound · can

  1. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  2. Did you ________________ the button?
  3. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  4. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  5. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  6. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  7. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  8. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  9. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  10. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  11. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  12. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  13. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  14. She's very handy with a ________________.
  15. He works in a ________________ mill.
  16. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  17. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  18. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  19. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  20. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  21. Where did you ________________ them?
  22. That was ________________ to happen.
  23. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  24. He refilled his coffee ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. deal — to handle
  2. press — to push
  3. deal — an agreement
  4. wound — an injury
  5. track — a path
  6. can — a tin
  7. press — a publisher
  8. press — newspapers
  9. can — to be able to
  10. wound — an injury
  11. bound — tied together
  12. bound — obliged
  13. saw — past of 'see'
  14. saw — the tool
  15. saw — the tool
  16. track — a song
  17. can — a tin
  18. mug — a face
  19. deal — a big deal
  20. track — to keep track
  21. mug — to rob
  22. bound — certain
  23. wound — past of 'wind'
  24. mug — a cup

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