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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. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  2. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  3. When was this ________________ built?
  4. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  5. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  6. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  7. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  8. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  9. I've got to change the light ________________.
  10. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  11. The light ________________ burned out.
  12. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  13. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  14. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  15. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  16. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  17. Did you ________________ the button?
  18. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  19. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  20. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  21. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  22. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  23. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  24. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.

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

Answer key

  1. mark — a grade
  2. press — newspapers
  3. temple — a place of worship
  4. mark — a trace
  5. bark — to shout
  6. track — to keep track
  7. press — a publisher
  8. track — a song
  9. bulb — for light
  10. temple — a place of worship
  11. bulb — for light
  12. bulb — of a plant
  13. track — a path
  14. temple — side of the head
  15. mark — to pay attention
  16. bark — a dog's sound
  17. press — to push
  18. bark — of a tree
  19. leaves — to go away
  20. lean — thin
  21. lean — to rest against
  22. leaves — of a tree
  23. lean — to bend
  24. leaves — lets stay

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