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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. The light ________________ burned out.
  2. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  3. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  4. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  5. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  6. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  7. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  8. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  9. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  10. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  11. I'll be taking the ________________.
  12. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  13. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  14. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  15. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  16. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  17. I've got to change the light ________________.
  18. Did you ________________ the button?
  19. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  20. What do you think of the new ________________?
  21. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  22. My mare is ________________ in color.
  23. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  24. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — for light
  2. shower — a meteor shower
  3. bay — a part of the sea
  4. leaves — lets stay
  5. pass — to succeed
  6. press — a publisher
  7. leaves — to go away
  8. bay — to keep at bay
  9. leaves — of a tree
  10. shower — to wash
  11. tube — the underground
  12. tube — in a tire
  13. pass — to spend time
  14. pass — a permit
  15. cabinet — ministers
  16. shower — rain
  17. bulb — for light
  18. press — to push
  19. bulb — of a plant
  20. cabinet — ministers
  21. tube — a container
  22. bay — a horse colour
  23. cabinet — a cupboard
  24. press — newspapers

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