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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 · prune · toast · lean · can · bore · land · staff

  1. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  2. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  3. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  4. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  5. Did you ________________ the button?
  6. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  7. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  8. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  9. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  10. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  11. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  12. When are we going to ________________?
  13. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  14. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  15. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  16. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  17. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  18. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  19. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  20. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  21. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  22. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  23. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  24. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.

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

Answer key

  1. can — a tin
  2. press — newspapers
  3. lean — to rest against
  4. press — a publisher
  5. press — to push
  6. can — to be able to
  7. land — a country
  8. toast — the most admired
  9. bore — to drill
  10. prune — to trim
  11. bore — gave birth
  12. land — to come down
  13. toast — bread
  14. prune — to trim
  15. lean — to bend
  16. land — ground
  17. can — a tin
  18. prune — the fruit
  19. bore — to tire
  20. staff — employees
  21. staff — employees
  22. staff — a stick
  23. lean — thin
  24. toast — a drink to someone

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