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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. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  2. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  3. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  4. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  5. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  6. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  7. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  8. The light ________________ burned out.
  9. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  10. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  11. I've got to change the light ________________.
  12. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  13. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  14. How do you ________________ your surname?
  15. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  16. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  17. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  18. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  19. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  20. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  21. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  22. Did you ________________ the button?
  23. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  24. That must've been a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. rock — a stone
  2. firm — decided
  3. firm — steady
  4. press — a publisher
  5. spell — a short time
  6. calf — of the leg
  7. mark — a trace
  8. bulb — for light
  9. firm — a company
  10. mark — to pay attention
  11. bulb — for light
  12. rock — music
  13. mark — a grade
  14. spell — letters
  15. rock — to move gently
  16. spell — magic
  17. rush — to hurry
  18. press — newspapers
  19. rush — hurry
  20. calf — a young animal
  21. calf — a young animal
  22. press — to push
  23. bulb — of a plant
  24. rush — a thrill

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