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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 · bowl · spell · nail · row · mate · bear · land

  1. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  2. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  3. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  4. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  5. The ________________ went through the wall.
  6. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  7. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  8. When are we going to ________________?
  9. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  10. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  11. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  12. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  13. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  14. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  15. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  16. Have you found your soul ________________?
  17. How do you ________________ your surname?
  18. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  19. Did you ________________ the button?
  20. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  21. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  22. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  23. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  24. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mate — to breed
  2. spell — a short time
  3. nail — for a hammer
  4. row — to paddle
  5. nail — for a hammer
  6. nail — on a finger
  7. row — a line
  8. land — to come down
  9. row — a quarrel
  10. bowl — a dish
  11. bear — to put up with
  12. bowl — a football final
  13. spell — magic
  14. press — newspapers
  15. land — a country
  16. mate — a partner
  17. spell — letters
  18. bowl — to roll
  19. press — to push
  20. press — a publisher
  21. mate — a friend
  22. bear — the animal
  23. bear — the animal
  24. land — ground

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