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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: net · mug · toast · spell · deal · press · staff · lie

  1. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  2. How do you ________________ your surname?
  3. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  4. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  5. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  6. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  7. Where did you ________________ them?
  8. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  9. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  10. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  11. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  12. Did you ________________ the button?
  13. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  14. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  15. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  16. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  17. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  18. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  19. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  20. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  21. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  22. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  23. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  24. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. staff — employees
  2. spell — letters
  3. lie — an untruth
  4. lie — to recline
  5. staff — employees
  6. toast — a drink to someone
  7. mug — to rob
  8. mug — a face
  9. spell — magic
  10. spell — a short time
  11. toast — the most admired
  12. press — to push
  13. net — after costs
  14. deal — to handle
  15. deal — an agreement
  16. toast — bread
  17. press — newspapers
  18. net — for catching
  19. net — in sport
  20. press — a publisher
  21. deal — a big deal
  22. staff — a stick
  23. mug — a cup
  24. lie — an untruth

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