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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. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  2. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  3. I've got to change the light ________________.
  4. We're on a ________________ here.
  5. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  6. The light ________________ burned out.
  7. Did you ________________ the button?
  8. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  9. How do you ________________ your surname?
  10. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  11. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  12. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  13. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  14. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  15. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  16. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  17. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  18. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  19. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  20. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  21. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  22. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  23. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  24. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. spell — magic
  2. rock — music
  3. bulb — for light
  4. roll — on a roll
  5. patient — calm and waiting
  6. bulb — for light
  7. press — to push
  8. current — electric
  9. spell — letters
  10. press — newspapers
  11. rock — to move gently
  12. roll — a list
  13. vault — an arched ceiling
  14. press — a publisher
  15. patient — a sick person
  16. bulb — of a plant
  17. vault — in gymnastics
  18. spell — a short time
  19. rock — a stone
  20. current — of water
  21. current — happening now
  22. patient — a sick person
  23. roll — a cake
  24. vault — a safe

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