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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: press · rest · prune · mug · lean · board · calf · sharp

  1. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  2. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  3. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  4. Where did you ________________ them?
  5. Did you ________________ the button?
  6. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  7. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  8. It's one o'clock ________________.
  9. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  10. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  11. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  12. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  13. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  14. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  15. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  16. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  17. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  18. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  19. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  20. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  21. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  22. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  23. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  24. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.

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

Answer key

  1. prune — to trim
  2. press — newspapers
  3. sharp — clever
  4. mug — to rob
  5. press — to push
  6. calf — a young animal
  7. rest — a break
  8. sharp — exactly
  9. board — a flat piece
  10. mug — a face
  11. rest — what's left
  12. lean — to bend
  13. rest — what's left
  14. sharp — with an edge
  15. lean — to rest against
  16. lean — thin
  17. prune — to trim
  18. prune — the fruit
  19. board — a committee
  20. calf — a young animal
  21. mug — a cup
  22. calf — of the leg
  23. press — a publisher
  24. board — to get on

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