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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. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  2. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  3. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  4. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  5. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  6. The light ________________ burned out.
  7. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  8. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  9. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  10. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  11. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  12. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  13. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  14. Did you ________________ the button?
  15. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  16. I've got to change the light ________________.
  17. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  18. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  19. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  20. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  21. Did you ________________ the meat?
  22. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  23. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  24. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.

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

Answer key

  1. season — in sport
  2. press — a publisher
  3. foot — the bottom
  4. foot — a measure
  5. board — to get on
  6. bulb — for light
  7. lie — to recline
  8. fall — to drop
  9. lie — an untruth
  10. lie — an untruth
  11. foot — part of the body
  12. board — a committee
  13. toast — bread
  14. press — to push
  15. toast — the most admired
  16. bulb — for light
  17. bulb — of a plant
  18. board — a flat piece
  19. season — of the year
  20. fall — the season
  21. season — to add flavour
  22. press — newspapers
  23. toast — a drink to someone
  24. fall — to drop

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