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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: coach · ground · press · prune · patient · can · firm · rest

  1. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  2. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  3. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  4. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  5. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  6. There's no middle ________________.
  7. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  8. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  9. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  10. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  11. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  12. Did you ________________ the button?
  13. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  14. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  15. Have you met the new head ________________?
  16. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  17. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  18. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  19. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  20. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  21. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  22. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  23. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  24. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.

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

Answer key

  1. can — to be able to
  2. can — a tin
  3. press — newspapers
  4. ground — the earth
  5. patient — calm and waiting
  6. ground — a position
  7. coach — pulled by horses
  8. ground — crushed
  9. prune — the fruit
  10. rest — a break
  11. patient — a sick person
  12. press — to push
  13. firm — a company
  14. prune — to trim
  15. coach — a trainer
  16. can — a tin
  17. patient — a sick person
  18. rest — what's left
  19. rest — what's left
  20. press — a publisher
  21. coach — a trainer
  22. prune — to trim
  23. firm — steady
  24. firm — decided

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