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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. The light ________________ burned out.
  2. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  3. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  4. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  5. She's very handy with a ________________.
  6. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  7. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  8. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  9. He works in a ________________ mill.
  10. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  11. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  12. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  13. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  14. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  15. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  16. I've got to change the light ________________.
  17. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  18. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  19. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  20. Did you ________________ the button?
  21. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  22. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  23. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  24. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — for light
  2. deal — an agreement
  3. staff — a stick
  4. lie — an untruth
  5. saw — the tool
  6. saw — past of 'see'
  7. press — newspapers
  8. net — in sport
  9. saw — the tool
  10. staff — employees
  11. bulb — of a plant
  12. net — after costs
  13. press — a publisher
  14. deal — to handle
  15. lie — to recline
  16. bulb — for light
  17. pit — in a race
  18. net — for catching
  19. deal — a big deal
  20. press — to push
  21. pit — a fruit stone
  22. pit — a hole
  23. lie — an untruth
  24. staff — employees

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