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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: scale · shower · date · press · bulb · club · toast · rock

  1. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  2. I've got to change the light ________________.
  3. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  4. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  5. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  6. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  7. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  8. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  9. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  10. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  11. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  12. The light ________________ burned out.
  13. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  14. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  15. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  16. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  17. Did you ________________ the button?
  18. Have you settled on a ________________?
  19. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  20. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  21. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  22. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  23. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  24. I don't want to ________________ the boat.

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

Answer key

  1. press — newspapers
  2. bulb — for light
  3. club — a group
  4. date — the fruit
  5. press — a publisher
  6. shower — rain
  7. rock — music
  8. scale — for weighing
  9. bulb — of a plant
  10. rock — a stone
  11. toast — a drink to someone
  12. bulb — for light
  13. shower — a meteor shower
  14. toast — the most admired
  15. club — for dancing
  16. toast — bread
  17. press — to push
  18. date — on the calendar
  19. shower — to wash
  20. club — for golf
  21. date — on the calendar
  22. scale — in music
  23. scale — size or range
  24. rock — to move gently

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