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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. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  2. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  3. Have you met the new head ________________?
  4. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  5. This piece is in a major ________________.
  6. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  7. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  8. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  9. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  10. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  11. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  12. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  13. I've got to change the light ________________.
  14. Did you ________________ the button?
  15. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  16. The light ________________ burned out.
  17. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  18. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  19. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  20. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  21. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  22. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  23. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  24. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — the animal
  2. coach — a trainer
  3. coach — a trainer
  4. key — the most important part
  5. key — in music
  6. spring — the season
  7. press — newspapers
  8. spring — a coil
  9. pit — in a race
  10. bore — gave birth
  11. key — for a lock
  12. coach — pulled by horses
  13. bulb — for light
  14. press — to push
  15. bore — to drill
  16. bulb — for light
  17. bore — to tire
  18. mouse — the animal
  19. bulb — of a plant
  20. pit — a hole
  21. mouse — for a computer
  22. pit — a fruit stone
  23. spring — of water
  24. press — a publisher

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