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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. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  2. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  3. He works in a ________________ mill.
  4. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  5. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  6. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  7. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  8. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  9. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  10. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  11. Did you ________________ the button?
  12. The light ________________ burned out.
  13. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  14. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  15. I've got to change the light ________________.
  16. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  17. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  18. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  19. She's very handy with a ________________.
  20. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  21. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  22. Have you met the new head ________________?
  23. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  24. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. firm — steady
  2. saw — past of 'see'
  3. saw — the tool
  4. bulb — of a plant
  5. staff — a stick
  6. object — to protest
  7. rest — a break
  8. object — a thing
  9. staff — employees
  10. coach — pulled by horses
  11. press — to push
  12. bulb — for light
  13. firm — decided
  14. rest — what's left
  15. bulb — for light
  16. coach — a trainer
  17. press — a publisher
  18. staff — employees
  19. saw — the tool
  20. firm — a company
  21. press — newspapers
  22. coach — a trainer
  23. rest — what's left
  24. object — an aim

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