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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: hand · suit · bark · prune · charge · press · mug · stem

  1. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  2. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  3. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  4. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  5. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  6. The tickets are free of ________________.
  7. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  8. Where did you ________________ them?
  9. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  10. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  11. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  12. Did you ________________ the button?
  13. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  14. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  15. When will it ________________ you to start?
  16. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  17. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  18. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  19. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  20. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  21. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  22. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  23. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  24. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.

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

Answer key

  1. stem — of a plant
  2. suit — clothes
  3. bark — a dog's sound
  4. suit — in cards
  5. hand — part of the body
  6. charge — a price
  7. mug — a cup
  8. mug — to rob
  9. prune — to trim
  10. hand — help
  11. charge — in control
  12. press — to push
  13. bark — of a tree
  14. press — newspapers
  15. suit — to fit
  16. prune — to trim
  17. stem — to come from
  18. mug — a face
  19. press — a publisher
  20. hand — in cards
  21. bark — to shout
  22. prune — the fruit
  23. charge — electricity
  24. stem — a stem cell

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