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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 120 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. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  2. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  3. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  4. Did you ________________ the button?
  5. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  6. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  7. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  8. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  9. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  10. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  11. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  12. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  13. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  14. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  15. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  16. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  17. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  18. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  19. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  20. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  21. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  22. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  23. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  24. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.

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

Answer key

  1. rock — to move gently
  2. current — electric
  3. rock — music
  4. press — to push
  5. mouse — for a computer
  6. lie — an untruth
  7. press — newspapers
  8. prune — to trim
  9. deal — a big deal
  10. deal — to handle
  11. lie — to recline
  12. lie — an untruth
  13. press — a publisher
  14. spring — of water
  15. spring — a coil
  16. rock — a stone
  17. prune — the fruit
  18. current — happening now
  19. deal — an agreement
  20. mouse — the animal
  21. prune — to trim
  22. spring — the season
  23. current — of water
  24. mouse — the animal

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