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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. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  2. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  3. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  4. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  5. Did you ________________ the button?
  6. I've got to change the light ________________.
  7. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  8. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  9. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  10. How do you ________________ your surname?
  11. The light ________________ burned out.
  12. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  13. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  14. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  15. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  16. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  17. This piece is in a major ________________.
  18. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  19. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  20. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  21. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  22. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  23. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  24. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — the animal
  2. bulb — of a plant
  3. press — newspapers
  4. file — a document
  5. press — to push
  6. bulb — for light
  7. mouse — the animal
  8. can — a tin
  9. key — the most important part
  10. spell — letters
  11. bulb — for light
  12. lash — an eyelash
  13. mouse — for a computer
  14. key — for a lock
  15. lash — a whip stroke
  16. can — to be able to
  17. key — in music
  18. spell — magic
  19. file — a tool
  20. press — a publisher
  21. file — a line of people
  22. can — a tin
  23. lash — to lash out
  24. spell — a short time

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