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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: can · pitcher · bulb · track · saw · date · press · tube

  1. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  2. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  3. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  4. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  5. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  6. He is an ace ________________.
  7. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  8. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  9. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  10. I've got to change the light ________________.
  11. She's very handy with a ________________.
  12. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  13. Have you settled on a ________________?
  14. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  15. The light ________________ burned out.
  16. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  17. I'll be taking the ________________.
  18. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  19. Did you ________________ the button?
  20. He works in a ________________ mill.
  21. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  22. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  23. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  24. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.

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

Answer key

  1. saw — past of 'see'
  2. press — newspapers
  3. can — a tin
  4. pitcher — a jug
  5. tube — in a tire
  6. pitcher — in baseball
  7. track — a path
  8. date — on the calendar
  9. track — to keep track
  10. bulb — for light
  11. saw — the tool
  12. pitcher — a jug
  13. date — on the calendar
  14. can — to be able to
  15. bulb — for light
  16. bulb — of a plant
  17. tube — the underground
  18. tube — a container
  19. press — to push
  20. saw — the tool
  21. can — a tin
  22. track — a song
  23. press — a publisher
  24. date — the fruit

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