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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: ball · press · firm · prune · fan · hide · fine · suit

  1. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  2. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  3. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  4. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  5. The King held a masked ________________.
  6. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  7. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  8. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  9. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  10. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  11. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  12. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  13. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  14. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  15. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  16. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  17. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  18. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  19. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  20. When will it ________________ you to start?
  21. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  22. Did you ________________ the button?
  23. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  24. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.

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

Answer key

  1. fine — a penalty
  2. ball — a great time
  3. fan — a supporter
  4. fine — all right
  5. ball — a dance
  6. firm — a company
  7. prune — the fruit
  8. hide — to keep secret
  9. press — newspapers
  10. suit — clothes
  11. fan — to cool the air
  12. hide — to keep secret
  13. hide — animal skin
  14. fine — high quality
  15. fan — a supporter
  16. press — a publisher
  17. prune — to trim
  18. firm — steady
  19. prune — to trim
  20. suit — to fit
  21. ball — a round shape
  22. press — to push
  23. suit — in cards
  24. firm — decided

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