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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. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  2. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  3. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  4. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  5. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  6. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  7. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  8. He works in a ________________ mill.
  9. I've got to change the light ________________.
  10. Did you ________________ the button?
  11. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  12. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  13. She's very handy with a ________________.
  14. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  15. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  16. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  17. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  18. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  19. The light ________________ burned out.
  20. The tickets are free of ________________.
  21. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  22. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  23. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  24. The flowers bloom in the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — of a plant
  2. spring — a coil
  3. press — a publisher
  4. bear — to put up with
  5. press — newspapers
  6. current — of water
  7. spring — of water
  8. saw — the tool
  9. bulb — for light
  10. press — to push
  11. saw — past of 'see'
  12. bear — the animal
  13. saw — the tool
  14. current — electric
  15. mouse — for a computer
  16. mouse — the animal
  17. charge — in control
  18. mouse — the animal
  19. bulb — for light
  20. charge — a price
  21. bear — the animal
  22. charge — electricity
  23. current — happening now
  24. spring — the season

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