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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. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  3. I can't ________________ this cold.
  4. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  5. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  6. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  7. I've got to change the light ________________.
  8. Did you ________________ the button?
  9. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  10. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  11. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  12. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  13. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  14. The light ________________ burned out.
  15. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  16. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  17. Did you ________________ the meat?
  18. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  19. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  20. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  21. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  22. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  23. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  24. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.

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

Answer key

  1. press — newspapers
  2. fine — high quality
  3. stand — to bear
  4. fine — all right
  5. squash — the vegetable
  6. foot — the bottom
  7. bulb — for light
  8. press — to push
  9. squash — to crush
  10. fall — to drop
  11. foot — a measure
  12. bulb — of a plant
  13. foot — part of the body
  14. bulb — for light
  15. squash — the sport
  16. season — in sport
  17. season — to add flavour
  18. press — a publisher
  19. fall — to drop
  20. season — of the year
  21. stand — for spectators
  22. stand — on your feet
  23. fine — a penalty
  24. fall — the season

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