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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. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  2. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  3. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  4. I can't ________________ this cold.
  5. Did you ________________ the button?
  6. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  7. Hold the papers together with a ________________.
  8. What do you think of the new ________________?
  9. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  10. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  11. Don't do anything ________________.
  12. How can I extract the audio from a video ________________?
  13. The light ________________ burned out.
  14. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  15. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  16. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  17. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  18. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  19. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  20. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  21. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  22. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.
  23. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  24. I've got to change the light ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — ministers
  2. calf — a young animal
  3. bulb — of a plant
  4. stand — to bear
  5. press — to push
  6. calf — a young animal
  7. clip — for paper
  8. cabinet — ministers
  9. rash — on the skin
  10. calf — of the leg
  11. rash — hasty
  12. clip — a video
  13. bulb — for light
  14. bear — the animal
  15. bear — the animal
  16. press — a publisher
  17. bear — to put up with
  18. stand — for spectators
  19. press — newspapers
  20. cabinet — a cupboard
  21. rash — a series
  22. clip — to cut
  23. stand — on your feet
  24. bulb — for light

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