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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. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  3. Did you ________________ the button?
  4. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  5. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  6. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  7. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  8. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  9. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  10. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  11. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  12. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  13. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  14. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  15. The tickets are free of ________________.
  16. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  17. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  18. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  19. That was a fun ________________.
  20. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  21. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  22. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  23. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  24. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.

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

Answer key

  1. prune — the fruit
  2. present — the time now
  3. press — to push
  4. toast — a drink to someone
  5. press — newspapers
  6. toast — the most admired
  7. charge — electricity
  8. game — wild animals
  9. toast — bread
  10. prune — to trim
  11. game — a kind of play
  12. mark — to pay attention
  13. mark — a trace
  14. drill — a practice
  15. charge — a price
  16. press — a publisher
  17. present — a gift
  18. mark — a grade
  19. game — a match
  20. drill — the tool
  21. present — there
  22. prune — to trim
  23. charge — in control
  24. drill — army training

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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