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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. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  2. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  3. I've got to change the light ________________.
  4. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  5. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  6. Did you ________________ the button?
  7. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  8. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  9. The tickets are free of ________________.
  10. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  11. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  12. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  13. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  14. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  15. The light ________________ burned out.
  16. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  17. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  18. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  19. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  20. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  21. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  22. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  23. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  24. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.

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

Answer key

  1. band — a ring
  2. root — of a word
  3. bulb — for light
  4. hide — to keep secret
  5. root — of a plant
  6. press — to push
  7. charge — in control
  8. pass — to spend time
  9. charge — a price
  10. toast — bread
  11. pass — to succeed
  12. root — the cause
  13. toast — a drink to someone
  14. band — a music group
  15. bulb — for light
  16. hide — animal skin
  17. toast — the most admired
  18. pass — a permit
  19. charge — electricity
  20. press — a publisher
  21. hide — to keep secret
  22. band — a rubber band
  23. press — newspapers
  24. bulb — of a plant

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