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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. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  2. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  3. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  4. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  5. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  6. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  7. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  8. We're on a ________________ here.
  9. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  10. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  11. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  12. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  13. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  14. Did you ________________ the button?
  15. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  16. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  17. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  18. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  19. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  20. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  21. This piece is in a major ________________.
  22. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  23. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  24. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.

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

Answer key

  1. press — newspapers
  2. deal — an agreement
  3. key — for a lock
  4. key — the most important part
  5. prune — the fruit
  6. prune — to trim
  7. deal — to handle
  8. roll — on a roll
  9. perch — for a bird
  10. roll — a list
  11. roll — a cake
  12. perch — for a bird
  13. deal — a big deal
  14. press — to push
  15. leaves — to go away
  16. leaves — lets stay
  17. cap — a lid
  18. leaves — of a tree
  19. cap — of ice
  20. prune — to trim
  21. key — in music
  22. cap — a hat
  23. press — a publisher
  24. perch — the fish

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