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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. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  2. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  3. When will it ________________ you to start?
  4. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  5. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  6. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  7. That was a fun ________________.
  8. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  9. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  10. I've got to change the light ________________.
  11. That was ________________ to happen.
  12. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  13. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  14. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  15. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  16. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  17. Did you ________________ the button?
  18. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  19. The ________________ market has crashed.
  20. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  21. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  22. The light ________________ burned out.
  23. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  24. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. press — a publisher
  2. press — newspapers
  3. suit — to fit
  4. game — a kind of play
  5. toast — a drink to someone
  6. stock — a soup base
  7. game — a match
  8. bound — tied together
  9. suit — in cards
  10. bulb — for light
  11. bound — certain
  12. game — wild animals
  13. wave — a sudden rise
  14. wave — with your hand
  15. bound — obliged
  16. bulb — of a plant
  17. press — to push
  18. stock — goods
  19. stock — shares
  20. suit — clothes
  21. toast — bread
  22. bulb — for light
  23. toast — the most admired
  24. wave — of the sea

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