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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: sharp · hand · mouse · toast · racket · pass · press · tear

  1. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  2. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  3. It is only in accepting others that we can ________________ down our own barriers.
  4. It's one o'clock ________________.
  5. I cannot shed a ________________ for that horrible man.
  6. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  7. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  8. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  9. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  10. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  11. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  12. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  13. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  14. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  15. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  16. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  17. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  18. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  19. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  20. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  21. Drying a ________________ is more honorable than shedding torrents of blood.
  22. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  23. Did you ________________ the button?
  24. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — the animal
  2. press — newspapers
  3. tear — to rip
  4. sharp — exactly
  5. tear — from crying
  6. toast — the most admired
  7. hand — in cards
  8. sharp — clever
  9. press — a publisher
  10. hand — help
  11. mouse — the animal
  12. pass — a permit
  13. pass — to spend time
  14. toast — bread
  15. sharp — with an edge
  16. racket — for tennis
  17. racket — for tennis
  18. mouse — for a computer
  19. pass — to succeed
  20. hand — part of the body
  21. tear — from crying
  22. toast — a drink to someone
  23. press — to push
  24. racket — a loud noise

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