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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: craft · root · shower · press · bound · mark · season · prune

  1. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  2. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  3. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  4. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  5. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  6. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  7. Did you ________________ the meat?
  8. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  9. Did you ________________ the button?
  10. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  11. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  12. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  13. That was ________________ to happen.
  14. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  15. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  16. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  17. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  18. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  19. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  20. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  21. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  22. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  23. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  24. We took cover from the thunder ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. shower — a meteor shower
  2. press — newspapers
  3. root — of a plant
  4. prune — the fruit
  5. season — of the year
  6. prune — to trim
  7. season — to add flavour
  8. shower — to wash
  9. press — to push
  10. craft — a skill
  11. mark — to pay attention
  12. craft — a handicraft
  13. bound — certain
  14. root — of a word
  15. press — a publisher
  16. mark — a trace
  17. season — in sport
  18. mark — a grade
  19. bound — obliged
  20. prune — to trim
  21. bound — tied together
  22. craft — boats
  23. root — the cause
  24. shower — rain

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