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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. Did you ________________ the button?
  2. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  3. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  4. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  5. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  6. The ________________ market has crashed.
  7. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  8. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  9. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  10. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  11. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  12. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  13. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  14. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  15. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  16. That must've been a ________________.
  17. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  18. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  19. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  20. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  21. Have you settled on a ________________?
  22. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  23. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  24. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.

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

Answer key

  1. press — to push
  2. trunk — of a tree
  3. press — newspapers
  4. press — a publisher
  5. date — the fruit
  6. stock — shares
  7. fine — a penalty
  8. rush — to hurry
  9. mark — a trace
  10. trunk — of an elephant
  11. stock — a soup base
  12. mark — a grade
  13. rush — hurry
  14. date — on the calendar
  15. bore — to tire
  16. rush — a thrill
  17. mark — to pay attention
  18. stock — goods
  19. bore — to drill
  20. bore — gave birth
  21. date — on the calendar
  22. fine — all right
  23. trunk — of a car
  24. fine — high quality

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