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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. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  2. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  3. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  4. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  5. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  6. What do you think of the new ________________?
  7. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  8. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  9. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  10. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  11. The light ________________ burned out.
  12. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  13. Did you ________________ the button?
  14. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  15. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  16. I've got to change the light ________________.
  17. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  18. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  19. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  20. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  21. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  22. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  23. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  24. Biology is a ________________ of science.

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — a cupboard
  2. bulb — of a plant
  3. march — music
  4. foot — part of the body
  5. foot — a measure
  6. cabinet — ministers
  7. perch — for a bird
  8. cabinet — ministers
  9. branch — of a bank
  10. bear — the animal
  11. bulb — for light
  12. press — a publisher
  13. press — to push
  14. branch — of a tree
  15. march — the month
  16. bulb — for light
  17. perch — for a bird
  18. march — the month
  19. bear — to put up with
  20. foot — the bottom
  21. press — newspapers
  22. bear — the animal
  23. perch — the fish
  24. branch — a division

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