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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. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  2. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  3. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  4. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  5. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  6. I've got to change the light ________________.
  7. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  8. Did you ________________ the meat?
  9. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  10. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  11. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  12. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  13. You don't need to ________________ round.
  14. The light ________________ burned out.
  15. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  16. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  17. Did you ________________ the button?
  18. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  19. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  20. We're almost out of ________________.
  21. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  22. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  23. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  24. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.

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

Answer key

  1. season — in sport
  2. perch — the fish
  3. fan — to cool the air
  4. press — newspapers
  5. press — a publisher
  6. bulb — for light
  7. kick — with a leg
  8. season — to add flavour
  9. perch — for a bird
  10. season — of the year
  11. bulb — of a plant
  12. trunk — of a tree
  13. pop — to visit
  14. bulb — for light
  15. perch — for a bird
  16. trunk — of an elephant
  17. press — to push
  18. fan — a supporter
  19. kick — a thrill
  20. pop — soda
  21. fan — a supporter
  22. trunk — of a car
  23. kick — in football
  24. pop — 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