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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. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  2. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  3. Did you ________________ the button?
  4. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  5. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  6. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  7. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  8. The light ________________ burned out.
  9. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  10. When will it ________________ you to start?
  11. I had a bad ________________ and was in bed for a week.
  12. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  13. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  14. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  15. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  16. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  17. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  18. The water is too ________________.
  19. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  20. I've got to change the light ________________.
  21. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  22. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  23. Its rival in the ________________ War, the Soviet Union, exploited this at the time.
  24. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — of a plant
  2. press — newspapers
  3. press — to push
  4. suit — clothes
  5. can — a tin
  6. press — a publisher
  7. bore — to drill
  8. bulb — for light
  9. bore — to tire
  10. suit — to fit
  11. cold — an illness
  12. can — to be able to
  13. wound — an injury
  14. wound — past of 'wind'
  15. bank — for money
  16. bank — for money
  17. wound — an injury
  18. cold — not warm
  19. bore — gave birth
  20. bulb — for light
  21. can — a tin
  22. suit — in cards
  23. cold — the Cold War
  24. bank — of a river

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