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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. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  2. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  3. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  4. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  5. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  6. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  7. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  8. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  9. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  10. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  11. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  12. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  13. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  14. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  15. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  16. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  17. Did you ________________ the button?
  18. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  19. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  20. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  21. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  22. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  23. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  24. You can't go backstage without a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. trunk — of an elephant
  2. press — newspapers
  3. lash — an eyelash
  4. spring — the season
  5. present — there
  6. pass — to succeed
  7. press — a publisher
  8. bowl — a dish
  9. trunk — of a car
  10. scale — in music
  11. pass — to spend time
  12. lash — to lash out
  13. trunk — of a tree
  14. scale — size or range
  15. bowl — to roll
  16. present — the time now
  17. press — to push
  18. lash — a whip stroke
  19. scale — for weighing
  20. spring — of water
  21. bowl — a football final
  22. spring — a coil
  23. present — a gift
  24. pass — a permit

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