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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. When will it ________________ you to start?
  2. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  3. How do you ________________ your surname?
  4. That must've been a ________________.
  5. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  6. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  7. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  8. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  9. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  10. Did you ________________ the button?
  11. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  12. The light ________________ burned out.
  13. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  14. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  15. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  16. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  17. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  18. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  19. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  20. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  21. I've got to change the light ________________.
  22. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  23. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  24. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.

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

Answer key

  1. suit — to fit
  2. press — newspapers
  3. spell — letters
  4. rush — a thrill
  5. wave — with your hand
  6. suit — clothes
  7. board — a flat piece
  8. mine — for digging
  9. mine — belonging to me
  10. press — to push
  11. rush — to hurry
  12. bulb — for light
  13. press — a publisher
  14. bulb — of a plant
  15. wave — a sudden rise
  16. spell — a short time
  17. suit — in cards
  18. board — a committee
  19. spell — magic
  20. wave — of the sea
  21. bulb — for light
  22. rush — hurry
  23. mine — an explosive
  24. board — to get on

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