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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. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  2. I can't ________________ this cold.
  3. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  4. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  5. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  6. The light ________________ burned out.
  7. The ________________ market has crashed.
  8. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  9. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  10. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  11. Did you ________________ the button?
  12. Have you met the new head ________________?
  13. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  14. Where did you ________________ them?
  15. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  16. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  17. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  18. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  19. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  20. I'll be taking the ________________.
  21. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  22. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  23. I've got to change the light ________________.
  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. stand — for spectators
  2. stand — to bear
  3. press — newspapers
  4. tube — a container
  5. press — a publisher
  6. bulb — for light
  7. stock — shares
  8. stock — goods
  9. lean — to rest against
  10. mug — a cup
  11. press — to push
  12. coach — a trainer
  13. mug — a face
  14. mug — to rob
  15. stand — on your feet
  16. lean — to bend
  17. lean — thin
  18. stock — a soup base
  19. tube — in a tire
  20. tube — the underground
  21. coach — a trainer
  22. coach — pulled by horses
  23. bulb — for light
  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