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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: dip · prune · press · cap · nail · object · lie · pitcher

  1. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  2. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  3. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  4. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  5. He is an ace ________________.
  6. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  7. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  8. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  9. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  10. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  11. Did you ________________ the button?
  12. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  13. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  14. The ________________ went through the wall.
  15. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  16. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  17. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  18. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  19. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  20. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  21. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  22. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  23. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  24. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.

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

Answer key

  1. lie — an untruth
  2. press — newspapers
  3. prune — the fruit
  4. nail — on a finger
  5. pitcher — in baseball
  6. pitcher — a jug
  7. lie — to recline
  8. dip — to sink
  9. cap — a lid
  10. pitcher — a jug
  11. press — to push
  12. nail — for a hammer
  13. object — a thing
  14. nail — for a hammer
  15. prune — to trim
  16. object — an aim
  17. cap — a hat
  18. object — to protest
  19. dip — a sauce
  20. press — a publisher
  21. prune — to trim
  22. cap — of ice
  23. lie — an untruth
  24. dip — to dunk

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