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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. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  2. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  3. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  4. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  5. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  6. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  7. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  8. What do you think of the new ________________?
  9. When will it ________________ you to start?
  10. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  11. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  12. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  13. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  14. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  15. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  16. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  17. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  18. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  19. Did you ________________ the button?
  20. Don't do anything ________________.
  21. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  22. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  23. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  24. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.

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

Answer key

  1. prune — the fruit
  2. rule — government
  3. cabinet — a cupboard
  4. jam — to spread on bread
  5. press — newspapers
  6. rash — on the skin
  7. rest — what's left
  8. cabinet — ministers
  9. suit — to fit
  10. prune — to trim
  11. cabinet — ministers
  12. suit — in cards
  13. press — a publisher
  14. rest — a break
  15. jam — a tight spot
  16. prune — to trim
  17. rest — what's left
  18. rule — to rule out
  19. press — to push
  20. rash — hasty
  21. suit — clothes
  22. rash — a series
  23. jam — in traffic
  24. rule — a law

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