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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 function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  2. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  3. The light ________________ burned out.
  4. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  5. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  6. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  7. Did you ________________ the button?
  8. Did you ________________ the meat?
  9. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  10. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  11. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  12. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  13. My mare is ________________ in color.
  14. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  15. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  16. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  17. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  18. I've got to change the light ________________.
  19. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  20. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  21. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  22. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  23. That must've been a ________________.
  24. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.

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

Answer key

  1. press — newspapers
  2. patient — a sick person
  3. bulb — for light
  4. rush — to hurry
  5. season — in sport
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. press — to push
  8. season — to add flavour
  9. bay — to keep at bay
  10. season — of the year
  11. prune — to trim
  12. safe — a strongbox
  13. bay — a horse colour
  14. rush — hurry
  15. press — a publisher
  16. prune — to trim
  17. bay — a part of the sea
  18. bulb — for light
  19. bulb — of a plant
  20. prune — the fruit
  21. patient — calm and waiting
  22. safe — out of danger
  23. rush — a thrill
  24. patient — a sick person

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