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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. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  2. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  3. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  4. Did you ________________ the button?
  5. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  6. False peace will not ________________.
  7. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  8. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  9. The light ________________ burned out.
  10. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  11. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  12. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  13. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  14. I've got to change the light ________________.
  15. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  16. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  17. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  18. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  19. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  20. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  21. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  22. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  23. When was this ________________ built?
  24. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.

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

Answer key

  1. fan — a supporter
  2. temple — side of the head
  3. press — newspapers
  4. press — to push
  5. last — finally
  6. last — to go on
  7. prune — to trim
  8. last — final
  9. bulb — for light
  10. craft — boats
  11. ruler — for measuring
  12. craft — a skill
  13. ruler — for measuring
  14. bulb — for light
  15. press — a publisher
  16. fan — to cool the air
  17. prune — to trim
  18. prune — the fruit
  19. bulb — of a plant
  20. ruler — a monarch
  21. temple — a place of worship
  22. fan — a supporter
  23. temple — a place of worship
  24. craft — a handicraft

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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