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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 116 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: prune · coach · spell · pass · press · root · object · charge

  1. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  2. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  3. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  4. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  5. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  6. Did you ________________ the button?
  7. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  8. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  9. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  10. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  11. The tickets are free of ________________.
  12. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  13. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  14. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  15. How do you ________________ your surname?
  16. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  17. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  18. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  19. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  20. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  21. Have you met the new head ________________?
  22. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  23. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  24. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.

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

Answer key

  1. press — newspapers
  2. charge — in control
  3. prune — the fruit
  4. coach — a trainer
  5. spell — a short time
  6. press — to push
  7. charge — electricity
  8. coach — pulled by horses
  9. spell — magic
  10. root — of a plant
  11. charge — a price
  12. pass — to spend time
  13. root — the cause
  14. prune — to trim
  15. spell — letters
  16. object — an aim
  17. press — a publisher
  18. object — a thing
  19. root — of a word
  20. object — to protest
  21. coach — a trainer
  22. pass — to succeed
  23. pass — a permit
  24. prune — to trim

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