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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. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  2. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  3. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  4. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  5. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  6. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  7. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  8. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  9. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  10. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  11. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  12. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  13. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  14. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  15. He is an ace ________________.
  16. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  17. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  18. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  19. Did you ________________ the button?
  20. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  21. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  22. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  23. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  24. The train ________________ at six o'clock.

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

Answer key

  1. press — newspapers
  2. leaves — of a tree
  3. fine — a penalty
  4. squash — the vegetable
  5. leaves — lets stay
  6. bore — gave birth
  7. fine — high quality
  8. present — the time now
  9. present — there
  10. bore — to tire
  11. press — a publisher
  12. squash — the sport
  13. squash — to crush
  14. stem — of a plant
  15. pitcher — in baseball
  16. fine — all right
  17. pitcher — a jug
  18. bore — to drill
  19. press — to push
  20. stem — a stem cell
  21. stem — to come from
  22. pitcher — a jug
  23. present — a gift
  24. leaves — to go away

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