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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. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  2. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  3. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  4. Did you ________________ the button?
  5. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  6. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  7. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  8. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  9. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  10. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  11. I've got to change the light ________________.
  12. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  13. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  14. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  15. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  16. Have you settled on a ________________?
  17. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  18. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  19. The light ________________ burned out.
  20. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  21. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  22. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  23. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  24. He keeps ________________ of his days.

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

Answer key

  1. firm — a company
  2. date — the fruit
  3. can — a tin
  4. press — to push
  5. can — a tin
  6. track — a song
  7. can — to be able to
  8. firm — steady
  9. ruler — for measuring
  10. press — a publisher
  11. bulb — for light
  12. file — a tool
  13. press — newspapers
  14. ruler — for measuring
  15. firm — decided
  16. date — on the calendar
  17. track — a path
  18. file — a document
  19. bulb — for light
  20. bulb — of a plant
  21. date — on the calendar
  22. ruler — a monarch
  23. file — a line of people
  24. track — to keep track

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