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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. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  2. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  3. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  4. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  5. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  6. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  7. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  8. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  9. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  10. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  11. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  12. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  13. Did you ________________ the button?
  14. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  15. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  16. I'll be taking the ________________.
  17. That was ________________ to happen.
  18. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  19. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  20. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  21. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  22. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  23. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  24. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.

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

Answer key

  1. prune — to trim
  2. prune — the fruit
  3. firm — a company
  4. firm — decided
  5. leaves — to go away
  6. fan — to cool the air
  7. lie — an untruth
  8. press — newspapers
  9. leaves — of a tree
  10. fan — a supporter
  11. prune — to trim
  12. bound — obliged
  13. press — to push
  14. fan — a supporter
  15. tube — in a tire
  16. tube — the underground
  17. bound — certain
  18. bound — tied together
  19. leaves — lets stay
  20. lie — an untruth
  21. press — a publisher
  22. firm — steady
  23. lie — to recline
  24. tube — a container

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