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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 116 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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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  2. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  3. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  4. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  5. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  6. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  7. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  8. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  9. The light ________________ burned out.
  10. How do you ________________ your surname?
  11. I've got to change the light ________________.
  12. There's no middle ________________.
  13. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  14. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  15. Did you ________________ the button?
  16. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  17. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  18. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  19. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  20. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  21. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  22. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  23. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  24. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — to succeed
  2. mark — a grade
  3. ground — the earth
  4. safe — a strongbox
  5. bulb — of a plant
  6. spell — a short time
  7. pass — to spend time
  8. pass — a permit
  9. bulb — for light
  10. spell — letters
  11. bulb — for light
  12. ground — a position
  13. spell — magic
  14. wake — a trail
  15. press — to push
  16. mark — a trace
  17. press — newspapers
  18. wake — before a funeral
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. mark — to pay attention
  21. press — a publisher
  22. ground — crushed
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. wake — to stop sleeping

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