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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.

Words on the sheet
468
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: pit · bay · sharp · bulb · charge · press · straw · craft

  1. It's one o'clock ________________.
  2. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  3. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  4. I've got to change the light ________________.
  5. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  6. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  7. Did you ________________ the button?
  8. The light ________________ burned out.
  9. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  10. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  11. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  12. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  13. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  14. The tickets are free of ________________.
  15. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  16. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  17. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  18. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  19. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  20. My mare is ________________ in color.
  21. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  22. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  23. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  24. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.

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

Answer key

  1. sharp — exactly
  2. pit — a fruit stone
  3. craft — a handicraft
  4. bulb — for light
  5. charge — in control
  6. charge — electricity
  7. press — to push
  8. bulb — for light
  9. pit — in a race
  10. press — newspapers
  11. sharp — with an edge
  12. pit — a hole
  13. straw — dry grass
  14. charge — a price
  15. bay — a part of the sea
  16. bay — to keep at bay
  17. sharp — clever
  18. straw — to clutch at straws
  19. bulb — of a plant
  20. bay — a horse colour
  21. press — a publisher
  22. craft — a skill
  23. craft — boats
  24. straw — a straw man

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