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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 120 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 ________________ is just a dried plum.
  2. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  3. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  4. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  5. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  6. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  7. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  8. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  9. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  10. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  11. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  12. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  13. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  14. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  15. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  16. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  17. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  18. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  19. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  20. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  21. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  22. Did you ________________ the button?
  23. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  24. She got the top ________________ in the exam.

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

Answer key

  1. prune — the fruit
  2. deal — to handle
  3. can — a tin
  4. mine — an explosive
  5. press — newspapers
  6. rock — to move gently
  7. press — a publisher
  8. mark — to pay attention
  9. rock — music
  10. can — a tin
  11. prune — to trim
  12. board — a flat piece
  13. mine — belonging to me
  14. mark — a trace
  15. prune — to trim
  16. deal — a big deal
  17. mine — for digging
  18. board — to get on
  19. can — to be able to
  20. board — a committee
  21. deal — an agreement
  22. press — to push
  23. rock — a stone
  24. mark — a grade

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