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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 120 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. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  3. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  4. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  5. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  6. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  7. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  8. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  9. The King held a masked ________________.
  10. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  11. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  12. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  13. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  14. My mare is ________________ in color.
  15. Did you ________________ the button?
  16. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  17. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  18. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  19. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  20. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  21. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  22. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  23. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  24. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.

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

Answer key

  1. prune — to trim
  2. bay — a part of the sea
  3. root — of a word
  4. patient — a sick person
  5. prune — the fruit
  6. press — a publisher
  7. ball — a great time
  8. prune — to trim
  9. ball — a dance
  10. root — of a plant
  11. patient — calm and waiting
  12. staff — employees
  13. press — newspapers
  14. bay — a horse colour
  15. press — to push
  16. ball — a round shape
  17. patient — a sick person
  18. lie — an untruth
  19. staff — a stick
  20. lie — to recline
  21. staff — employees
  22. lie — an untruth
  23. bay — to keep at bay
  24. root — the cause

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