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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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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. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  2. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  3. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  4. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  5. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  6. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  7. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  8. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  9. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  10. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  11. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  12. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  13. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  14. Did you ________________ the meat?
  15. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  16. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  17. Did you ________________ the button?
  18. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  19. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  20. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  21. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  22. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  23. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  24. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.

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

Answer key

  1. firm — a company
  2. file — a line of people
  3. press — a publisher
  4. staff — employees
  5. firm — steady
  6. ruler — for measuring
  7. prune — the fruit
  8. file — a tool
  9. press — newspapers
  10. ruler — for measuring
  11. staff — employees
  12. prune — to trim
  13. file — a document
  14. season — to add flavour
  15. toast — a drink to someone
  16. prune — to trim
  17. press — to push
  18. staff — a stick
  19. season — in sport
  20. firm — decided
  21. toast — the most admired
  22. season — of the year
  23. ruler — a monarch
  24. toast — bread

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