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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. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  2. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  3. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  4. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  5. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  6. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  7. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  8. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  9. Did you ________________ the button?
  10. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  11. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  12. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  13. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  14. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  15. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  16. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  17. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  18. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  19. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  20. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  21. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  22. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  23. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  24. The spa offers ________________ extensions.

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

Answer key

  1. deal — to handle
  2. lean — thin
  3. lash — to lash out
  4. stem — of a plant
  5. press — a publisher
  6. bass — the instrument
  7. press — newspapers
  8. lash — a whip stroke
  9. press — to push
  10. lean — to bend
  11. prune — the fruit
  12. deal — a big deal
  13. can — a tin
  14. prune — to trim
  15. bass — the fish
  16. prune — to trim
  17. deal — an agreement
  18. bass — low music
  19. stem — to come from
  20. can — a tin
  21. can — to be able to
  22. lean — to rest against
  23. stem — a stem cell
  24. lash — an eyelash

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