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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. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  2. I've got to change the light ________________.
  3. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  4. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  5. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  6. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  7. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  8. We're almost out of ________________.
  9. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  10. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  11. The light ________________ burned out.
  12. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  13. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  14. You don't need to ________________ round.
  15. Did you ________________ the button?
  16. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  17. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  18. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  19. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  20. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  21. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  22. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  23. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  24. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.

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

Answer key

  1. press — newspapers
  2. bulb — for light
  3. prune — to trim
  4. press — a publisher
  5. bulb — of a plant
  6. staff — employees
  7. trunk — of an elephant
  8. pop — soda
  9. deal — a big deal
  10. fine — high quality
  11. bulb — for light
  12. fine — a penalty
  13. trunk — of a car
  14. pop — to visit
  15. press — to push
  16. trunk — of a tree
  17. prune — the fruit
  18. staff — employees
  19. pop — music
  20. staff — a stick
  21. prune — to trim
  22. fine — all right
  23. deal — to handle
  24. deal — an agreement

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