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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. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  2. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  3. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  4. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  5. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  6. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  7. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  8. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  9. That must've been a ________________.
  10. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  11. Did you ________________ the button?
  12. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  13. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  14. Hold the papers together with a ________________.
  15. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  16. Have you settled on a ________________?
  17. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  18. How can I extract the audio from a video ________________?
  19. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  20. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  21. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  22. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.
  23. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  24. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.

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

Answer key

  1. date — the fruit
  2. press — newspapers
  3. bank — of a river
  4. can — a tin
  5. can — to be able to
  6. rush — to hurry
  7. mine — an explosive
  8. can — a tin
  9. rush — a thrill
  10. mine — for digging
  11. press — to push
  12. pass — to succeed
  13. bank — for money
  14. clip — for paper
  15. pass — to spend time
  16. date — on the calendar
  17. rush — hurry
  18. clip — a video
  19. pass — a permit
  20. press — a publisher
  21. mine — belonging to me
  22. clip — to cut
  23. date — on the calendar
  24. bank — for money

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