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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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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: jam · bay · bear · stem · stand · date · press · fall

  1. Did you ________________ the button?
  2. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  3. Have you settled on a ________________?
  4. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  5. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  6. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  7. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  8. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  9. My mare is ________________ in color.
  10. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  11. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  12. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  13. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  14. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  15. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  16. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  17. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  18. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  19. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  20. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  21. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  22. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  23. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  24. I can't ________________ this cold.

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

Answer key

  1. press — to push
  2. stem — of a plant
  3. date — on the calendar
  4. stand — for spectators
  5. date — the fruit
  6. bear — to put up with
  7. bear — the animal
  8. fall — to drop
  9. bay — a horse colour
  10. stand — on your feet
  11. jam — to spread on bread
  12. press — newspapers
  13. press — a publisher
  14. fall — the season
  15. bay — to keep at bay
  16. bay — a part of the sea
  17. date — on the calendar
  18. bear — the animal
  19. jam — in traffic
  20. stem — to come from
  21. jam — a tight spot
  22. fall — to drop
  23. stem — a stem cell
  24. stand — to bear

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