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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. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  2. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  3. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  4. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  5. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  6. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  7. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  8. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  9. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  10. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  11. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  12. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  13. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  14. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  15. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  16. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  17. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  18. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  19. Did you ________________ the button?
  20. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  21. I've got to change the light ________________.
  22. The light ________________ burned out.
  23. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  24. What do you think of the new ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. press — a publisher
  2. jam — to spread on bread
  3. bank — for money
  4. lean — thin
  5. foot — the bottom
  6. foot — a measure
  7. lean — to bend
  8. cabinet — a cupboard
  9. press — newspapers
  10. fine — all right
  11. bank — for money
  12. jam — a tight spot
  13. lean — to rest against
  14. cabinet — ministers
  15. bank — of a river
  16. fine — high quality
  17. fine — a penalty
  18. jam — in traffic
  19. press — to push
  20. bulb — of a plant
  21. bulb — for light
  22. bulb — for light
  23. foot — part of the body
  24. cabinet — ministers

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