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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 116 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. Have you found your soul ________________?
  3. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  4. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  5. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  6. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  7. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  8. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  9. Did you ________________ the button?
  10. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  11. The ________________ took off on time.
  12. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  13. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  14. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  15. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  16. The ________________ went through the wall.
  17. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  18. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  19. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  20. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  21. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  22. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  23. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  24. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.

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

Answer key

  1. prune — the fruit
  2. mate — a partner
  3. press — newspapers
  4. bass — the instrument
  5. bass — the fish
  6. drill — a practice
  7. nail — on a finger
  8. mark — a grade
  9. press — to push
  10. plane — in geometry
  11. plane — an aircraft
  12. drill — army training
  13. mate — to breed
  14. mate — a friend
  15. prune — to trim
  16. nail — for a hammer
  17. nail — for a hammer
  18. mark — to pay attention
  19. mark — a trace
  20. drill — the tool
  21. press — a publisher
  22. plane — a tool
  23. prune — to trim
  24. bass — low music

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