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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. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  2. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  3. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  4. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  5. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  6. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  7. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  8. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  9. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  10. Did you ________________ the button?
  11. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  12. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  13. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  14. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  15. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  16. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  17. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  18. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  19. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  20. How do you ________________ your surname?
  21. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  22. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  23. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  24. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.

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

Answer key

  1. toast — a drink to someone
  2. toast — bread
  3. toast — the most admired
  4. leaves — of a tree
  5. fan — a supporter
  6. press — a publisher
  7. fan — a supporter
  8. fan — to cool the air
  9. leaves — lets stay
  10. press — to push
  11. spell — magic
  12. leaves — to go away
  13. foot — part of the body
  14. can — to be able to
  15. current — of water
  16. can — a tin
  17. foot — a measure
  18. spell — a short time
  19. current — happening now
  20. spell — letters
  21. foot — the bottom
  22. can — a tin
  23. current — electric
  24. press — newspapers

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