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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. The light ________________ burned out.
  2. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  3. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  4. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  5. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  6. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  7. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  8. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  9. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  10. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  11. I've got to change the light ________________.
  12. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  13. Have you found your soul ________________?
  14. Have you met the new head ________________?
  15. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  16. Did you ________________ the button?
  17. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  18. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  19. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  20. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  21. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  22. When was this ________________ built?
  23. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  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. bulb — for light
  2. toast — the most admired
  3. press — newspapers
  4. temple — side of the head
  5. squash — to crush
  6. squash — the vegetable
  7. mate — a friend
  8. toast — bread
  9. toast — a drink to someone
  10. rock — music
  11. bulb — for light
  12. bulb — of a plant
  13. mate — a partner
  14. coach — a trainer
  15. mate — to breed
  16. press — to push
  17. rock — a stone
  18. coach — pulled by horses
  19. rock — to move gently
  20. coach — a trainer
  21. squash — the sport
  22. temple — a place of worship
  23. temple — a place of worship
  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