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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: object · clip · sharp · bore · press · mug · cell · pop

  1. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  2. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  3. Where did you ________________ them?
  4. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  5. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  6. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  7. You don't need to ________________ round.
  8. It's one o'clock ________________.
  9. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  10. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  11. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  12. Did you ________________ the button?
  13. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  14. How can I extract the audio from a video ________________?
  15. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  16. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  17. We're almost out of ________________.
  18. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  19. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  20. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  21. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.
  22. Hold the papers together with a ________________.
  23. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  24. He was locked up in a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. cell — in biology
  2. sharp — with an edge
  3. mug — to rob
  4. bore — gave birth
  5. bore — to tire
  6. press — a publisher
  7. pop — to visit
  8. sharp — exactly
  9. sharp — clever
  10. object — an aim
  11. mug — a cup
  12. press — to push
  13. object — a thing
  14. clip — a video
  15. press — newspapers
  16. cell — a phone
  17. pop — soda
  18. mug — a face
  19. pop — music
  20. object — to protest
  21. clip — to cut
  22. clip — for paper
  23. bore — to drill
  24. cell — in a prison

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