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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 got the top ________________ in the exam.
  2. I've got to change the light ________________.
  3. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  4. The light ________________ burned out.
  5. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  6. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  7. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  8. It's one o'clock ________________.
  9. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  10. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  11. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  12. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  13. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  14. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  15. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  16. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  17. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  18. Did you ________________ the meat?
  19. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  20. What do you think of the new ________________?
  21. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  22. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  23. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  24. Did you ________________ the button?

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

Answer key

  1. mark — a grade
  2. bulb — for light
  3. mark — a trace
  4. bulb — for light
  5. sharp — with an edge
  6. cabinet — ministers
  7. press — a publisher
  8. sharp — exactly
  9. press — newspapers
  10. can — to be able to
  11. snap — to speak sharply
  12. can — a tin
  13. snap — to click
  14. sharp — clever
  15. can — a tin
  16. mark — to pay attention
  17. snap — to snap out of it
  18. season — to add flavour
  19. season — of the year
  20. cabinet — ministers
  21. bulb — of a plant
  22. season — in sport
  23. cabinet — a cupboard
  24. press — to push

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