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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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468
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: jam · racket · tube · press · prune · mate · bulb · toast

  1. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  2. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  3. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  4. I'll be taking the ________________.
  5. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  6. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  7. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  8. The light ________________ burned out.
  9. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  10. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  11. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  12. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  13. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  14. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  15. Did you ________________ the button?
  16. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  17. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  18. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  19. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  20. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  21. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  22. Have you found your soul ________________?
  23. I've got to change the light ________________.
  24. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?

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

Answer key

  1. racket — a loud noise
  2. prune — the fruit
  3. jam — in traffic
  4. tube — the underground
  5. tube — in a tire
  6. toast — the most admired
  7. toast — a drink to someone
  8. bulb — for light
  9. jam — a tight spot
  10. press — newspapers
  11. jam — to spread on bread
  12. toast — bread
  13. tube — a container
  14. racket — for tennis
  15. press — to push
  16. prune — to trim
  17. mate — to breed
  18. press — a publisher
  19. bulb — of a plant
  20. prune — to trim
  21. racket — for tennis
  22. mate — a partner
  23. bulb — for light
  24. mate — a friend

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