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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. I've got to change the light ________________.
  2. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  3. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  4. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  5. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  6. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  7. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  8. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  9. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  10. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  11. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  12. The tickets are free of ________________.
  13. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  14. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  15. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  16. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  17. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  18. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  19. What do you think of the new ________________?
  20. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  21. Did you ________________ the button?
  22. The light ________________ burned out.
  23. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  24. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — for light
  2. bark — a dog's sound
  3. press — a publisher
  4. cabinet — a cupboard
  5. bark — of a tree
  6. deal — to handle
  7. cabinet — ministers
  8. charge — in control
  9. bark — to shout
  10. deal — an agreement
  11. hand — in cards
  12. charge — a price
  13. deal — a big deal
  14. hand — part of the body
  15. bank — of a river
  16. bank — for money
  17. charge — electricity
  18. bank — for money
  19. cabinet — ministers
  20. press — newspapers
  21. press — to push
  22. bulb — for light
  23. hand — help
  24. bulb — of a plant

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