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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: firm · band · march · foot · bay · press · bulb · charge

  1. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  2. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  3. The tickets are free of ________________.
  4. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  5. The light ________________ burned out.
  6. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  7. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  8. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  9. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  10. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  11. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  12. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  13. Did you ________________ the button?
  14. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  15. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  16. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  17. My mare is ________________ in color.
  18. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  19. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  20. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  21. I've got to change the light ________________.
  22. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  23. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  24. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bay — a part of the sea
  2. foot — part of the body
  3. charge — a price
  4. firm — steady
  5. bulb — for light
  6. press — a publisher
  7. band — a rubber band
  8. foot — a measure
  9. charge — in control
  10. band — a music group
  11. march — the month
  12. charge — electricity
  13. press — to push
  14. firm — decided
  15. band — a ring
  16. foot — the bottom
  17. bay — a horse colour
  18. bulb — of a plant
  19. march — the month
  20. press — newspapers
  21. bulb — for light
  22. march — music
  23. firm — a company
  24. bay — to keep at bay

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