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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. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  2. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  3. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  4. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  5. The ________________ went through the wall.
  6. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  7. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  8. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  9. Did you ________________ the button?
  10. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  11. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  12. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  13. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  14. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  15. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  16. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  17. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  18. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  19. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  20. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  21. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  22. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  23. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  24. Would you like some apricot ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — lets stay
  2. press — newspapers
  3. stem — to come from
  4. stem — a stem cell
  5. nail — for a hammer
  6. press — a publisher
  7. nail — on a finger
  8. nail — for a hammer
  9. press — to push
  10. jam — a tight spot
  11. lash — an eyelash
  12. trunk — of a car
  13. lash — to lash out
  14. leaves — of a tree
  15. jam — in traffic
  16. stem — of a plant
  17. trunk — of an elephant
  18. pass — to succeed
  19. trunk — of a tree
  20. pass — a permit
  21. lash — a whip stroke
  22. pass — to spend time
  23. leaves — to go away
  24. jam — to spread on bread

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