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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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Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: mark · bulb · cabinet · staff · stand · bear · season · press

  1. Did you ________________ the button?
  2. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  3. I can't ________________ this cold.
  4. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  5. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  6. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  7. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  8. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  9. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  10. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  11. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  12. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  13. Did you ________________ the meat?
  14. I've got to change the light ________________.
  15. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  16. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  17. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  18. The light ________________ burned out.
  19. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  20. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  21. What do you think of the new ________________?
  22. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  23. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  24. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.

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

Answer key

  1. press — to push
  2. staff — employees
  3. stand — to bear
  4. press — newspapers
  5. bear — the animal
  6. cabinet — a cupboard
  7. bear — to put up with
  8. staff — a stick
  9. mark — a grade
  10. bear — the animal
  11. season — in sport
  12. stand — for spectators
  13. season — to add flavour
  14. bulb — for light
  15. cabinet — ministers
  16. mark — a trace
  17. bulb — of a plant
  18. bulb — for light
  19. stand — on your feet
  20. season — of the year
  21. cabinet — ministers
  22. staff — employees
  23. mark — to pay attention
  24. press — a publisher

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