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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 big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  2. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  3. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  4. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  5. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  6. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  7. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  8. Did you ________________ the button?
  9. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  10. The tickets are free of ________________.
  11. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  12. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  13. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  14. It's one o'clock ________________.
  15. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  16. When was this ________________ built?
  17. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  18. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  19. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  20. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  21. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  22. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  23. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  24. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.

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

Answer key

  1. stem — of a plant
  2. press — newspapers
  3. band — a ring
  4. deal — to handle
  5. band — a rubber band
  6. charge — in control
  7. sharp — with an edge
  8. press — to push
  9. sharp — clever
  10. charge — a price
  11. temple — side of the head
  12. deal — a big deal
  13. charge — electricity
  14. sharp — exactly
  15. band — a music group
  16. temple — a place of worship
  17. temple — a place of worship
  18. pit — a fruit stone
  19. stem — a stem cell
  20. pit — in a race
  21. stem — to come from
  22. press — a publisher
  23. pit — a hole
  24. deal — an agreement

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