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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: safe · prune · charge · court · press · nail · plane · date

  1. Did you ________________ the button?
  2. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  3. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  4. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  5. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  6. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  7. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  8. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  9. Have you settled on a ________________?
  10. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  11. The tickets are free of ________________.
  12. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  13. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  14. The ball is in your ________________.
  15. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  16. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  17. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  18. The ________________ took off on time.
  19. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  20. The ________________ went through the wall.
  21. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  22. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  23. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  24. Is it ________________ for us to be here?

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

Answer key

  1. press — to push
  2. date — the fruit
  3. court — of law
  4. plane — a tool
  5. press — a publisher
  6. press — newspapers
  7. plane — in geometry
  8. charge — in control
  9. date — on the calendar
  10. date — on the calendar
  11. charge — a price
  12. prune — the fruit
  13. nail — for a hammer
  14. court — for sport
  15. charge — electricity
  16. prune — to trim
  17. nail — on a finger
  18. plane — an aircraft
  19. safe — a strongbox
  20. nail — for a hammer
  21. court — of a king
  22. safe — out of danger
  23. prune — to trim
  24. safe — out of danger

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