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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. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  2. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  3. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  4. I've got to change the light ________________.
  5. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  6. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  7. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  8. Did you ________________ the button?
  9. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  10. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  11. She's very handy with a ________________.
  12. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  13. The light ________________ burned out.
  14. How do you ________________ your surname?
  15. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  16. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  17. There's no middle ________________.
  18. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  19. He works in a ________________ mill.
  20. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  21. That must've been a ________________.
  22. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  23. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  24. You shouldn't ________________ things.

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

Answer key

  1. ground — crushed
  2. ground — the earth
  3. spell — a short time
  4. bulb — for light
  5. press — newspapers
  6. rush — hurry
  7. file — a line of people
  8. press — to push
  9. spell — magic
  10. bank — for money
  11. saw — the tool
  12. file — a tool
  13. bulb — for light
  14. spell — letters
  15. saw — past of 'see'
  16. file — a document
  17. ground — a position
  18. bulb — of a plant
  19. saw — the tool
  20. press — a publisher
  21. rush — a thrill
  22. bank — for money
  23. bank — of a river
  24. rush — to hurry

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