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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 party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  2. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  3. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  4. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  5. There's no middle ________________.
  6. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  7. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  8. The light ________________ burned out.
  9. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  10. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  11. Did you ________________ the button?
  12. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  13. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  14. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  15. It's one o'clock ________________.
  16. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  17. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  18. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  19. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  20. He is an ace ________________.
  21. I've got to change the light ________________.
  22. What do you think of the new ________________?
  23. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  24. Don't do anything ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. rash — a series
  2. press — newspapers
  3. bulb — of a plant
  4. sharp — clever
  5. ground — a position
  6. ruler — for measuring
  7. rash — on the skin
  8. bulb — for light
  9. sharp — with an edge
  10. pitcher — a jug
  11. press — to push
  12. ruler — for measuring
  13. pitcher — a jug
  14. ruler — a monarch
  15. sharp — exactly
  16. cabinet — a cupboard
  17. press — a publisher
  18. ground — the earth
  19. ground — crushed
  20. pitcher — in baseball
  21. bulb — for light
  22. cabinet — ministers
  23. cabinet — ministers
  24. rash — hasty

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