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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. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  2. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  3. The light ________________ burned out.
  4. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  5. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  6. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  7. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  8. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  9. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  10. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  11. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  12. I've got to change the light ________________.
  13. Did you ________________ the button?
  14. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  15. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  16. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  17. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  18. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  19. It's one o'clock ________________.
  20. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  21. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  22. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  23. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  24. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.

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

Answer key

  1. present — the time now
  2. ruler — for measuring
  3. bulb — for light
  4. drill — a practice
  5. present — there
  6. drill — the tool
  7. pitch — completely
  8. press — newspapers
  9. pitch — a sports field
  10. sharp — clever
  11. pitch — a sales talk
  12. bulb — for light
  13. press — to push
  14. bulb — of a plant
  15. bank — for money
  16. bank — of a river
  17. present — a gift
  18. ruler — for measuring
  19. sharp — exactly
  20. drill — army training
  21. ruler — a monarch
  22. sharp — with an edge
  23. bank — for money
  24. press — a publisher

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