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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.

Words on the sheet
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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: fan · board · pass · bulb · root · trunk · cabinet · press

  1. I've got to change the light ________________.
  2. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  3. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  4. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  5. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  6. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  7. What do you think of the new ________________?
  8. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  9. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  10. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  11. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  12. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  13. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  14. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  15. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  16. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  17. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  18. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  19. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  20. Did you ________________ the button?
  21. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  22. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  23. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  24. The light ________________ burned out.

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — for light
  2. board — a committee
  3. pass — to succeed
  4. cabinet — ministers
  5. trunk — of a car
  6. board — a flat piece
  7. cabinet — ministers
  8. press — newspapers
  9. pass — a permit
  10. fan — a supporter
  11. board — to get on
  12. pass — to spend time
  13. press — a publisher
  14. fan — a supporter
  15. root — of a plant
  16. trunk — of an elephant
  17. root — the cause
  18. bulb — of a plant
  19. root — of a word
  20. press — to push
  21. trunk — of a tree
  22. fan — to cool the air
  23. cabinet — a cupboard
  24. bulb — for light

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