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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. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  2. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  3. Did you ________________ the button?
  4. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  5. I've got to change the light ________________.
  6. I can't ________________ this cold.
  7. Have you found your soul ________________?
  8. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  9. The light ________________ burned out.
  10. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  11. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  12. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  13. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  14. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  15. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  16. Did you ________________ the meat?
  17. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  18. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  19. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  20. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  21. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  22. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  23. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  24. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. shower — to wash
  2. press — newspapers
  3. press — to push
  4. stand — on your feet
  5. bulb — for light
  6. stand — to bear
  7. mate — a partner
  8. shower — rain
  9. bulb — for light
  10. shower — a meteor shower
  11. perch — the fish
  12. deal — a big deal
  13. deal — an agreement
  14. bulb — of a plant
  15. stand — for spectators
  16. season — to add flavour
  17. press — a publisher
  18. season — in sport
  19. season — of the year
  20. mate — a friend
  21. mate — to breed
  22. perch — for a bird
  23. deal — to handle
  24. perch — for a bird

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