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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. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  2. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  3. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  4. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  5. That must've been a ________________.
  6. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  7. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  8. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  9. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  10. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  11. Have you met the new head ________________?
  12. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  13. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  14. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  15. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  16. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  17. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  18. Did you ________________ the button?
  19. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  20. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  21. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  22. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  23. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  24. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.

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

Answer key

  1. press — newspapers
  2. deal — an agreement
  3. rush — hurry
  4. band — a rubber band
  5. rush — a thrill
  6. trunk — of a tree
  7. press — a publisher
  8. prune — the fruit
  9. trunk — of a car
  10. band — a ring
  11. coach — a trainer
  12. rush — to hurry
  13. trunk — of an elephant
  14. coach — a trainer
  15. band — a music group
  16. lash — an eyelash
  17. prune — to trim
  18. press — to push
  19. coach — pulled by horses
  20. deal — to handle
  21. lash — to lash out
  22. prune — to trim
  23. lash — a whip stroke
  24. deal — a big deal

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