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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. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  2. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  3. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  4. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  5. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  6. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  7. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  8. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  9. I've got to change the light ________________.
  10. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  11. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  12. Did you ________________ the button?
  13. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  14. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  15. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  16. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  17. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  18. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  19. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  20. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  21. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  22. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  23. The light ________________ burned out.
  24. How do you ________________ your surname?

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

Answer key

  1. press — a publisher
  2. object — an aim
  3. mark — a trace
  4. mine — belonging to me
  5. mark — a grade
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. spell — a short time
  8. wax — for sculpting
  9. bulb — for light
  10. object — a thing
  11. mark — to pay attention
  12. press — to push
  13. press — newspapers
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. spell — magic
  16. bulb — of a plant
  17. wax — to grow
  18. mine — an explosive
  19. object — to protest
  20. wax — in the ear
  21. mine — for digging
  22. safe — a strongbox
  23. bulb — for light
  24. spell — letters

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