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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 116 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. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  2. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  3. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  4. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  5. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  6. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  7. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  8. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  9. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  10. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  11. Did you ________________ the button?
  12. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  13. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  14. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  15. Have you found your soul ________________?
  16. What do you think of the new ________________?
  17. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  18. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  19. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  20. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  21. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  22. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  23. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  24. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. press — newspapers
  2. mate — to breed
  3. stem — a stem cell
  4. trunk — of a tree
  5. stem — to come from
  6. track — a song
  7. cabinet — ministers
  8. pitch — a sports field
  9. track — to keep track
  10. leaves — of a tree
  11. press — to push
  12. trunk — of a car
  13. mate — a friend
  14. leaves — lets stay
  15. mate — a partner
  16. cabinet — ministers
  17. trunk — of an elephant
  18. leaves — to go away
  19. pitch — completely
  20. press — a publisher
  21. pitch — a sales talk
  22. stem — of a plant
  23. track — a path
  24. cabinet — a cupboard

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