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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. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  2. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  3. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  4. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  5. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  6. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  7. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  8. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  9. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  10. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  11. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  12. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  13. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  14. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  15. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  16. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  17. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  18. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  19. When will it ________________ you to start?
  20. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  21. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  22. The ________________ market has crashed.
  23. Did you ________________ the button?
  24. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.

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

Answer key

  1. hide — animal skin
  2. mark — to pay attention
  3. prune — the fruit
  4. pass — to succeed
  5. pass — a permit
  6. mark — a grade
  7. press — a publisher
  8. suit — clothes
  9. vault — in gymnastics
  10. suit — in cards
  11. vault — a safe
  12. mark — a trace
  13. stock — a soup base
  14. vault — an arched ceiling
  15. pass — to spend time
  16. prune — to trim
  17. hide — to keep secret
  18. stock — goods
  19. suit — to fit
  20. press — newspapers
  21. hide — to keep secret
  22. stock — shares
  23. press — to push
  24. prune — to trim

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