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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. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  2. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  3. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  4. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  5. Did you ________________ the button?
  6. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  7. Have you found your soul ________________?
  8. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  9. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  10. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  11. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  12. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  13. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  14. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  15. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  16. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  17. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  18. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  19. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  20. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  21. Did you ________________ the meat?
  22. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  23. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  24. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.

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

Answer key

  1. bank — for money
  2. safe — a strongbox
  3. press — a publisher
  4. can — a tin
  5. press — to push
  6. snap — to speak sharply
  7. mate — a partner
  8. can — to be able to
  9. season — in sport
  10. press — newspapers
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. mate — to breed
  13. bank — for money
  14. season — of the year
  15. can — a tin
  16. snap — to snap out of it
  17. prune — to trim
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. bank — of a river
  20. mate — a friend
  21. season — to add flavour
  22. prune — to trim
  23. prune — the fruit
  24. snap — to click

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