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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: press · date · bowl · roll · mate · hide · bulb · content

  1. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  2. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  3. The light ________________ burned out.
  4. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  5. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  6. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  7. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  8. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  9. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  10. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  11. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  12. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  13. Have you settled on a ________________?
  14. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  15. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  16. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  17. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  18. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  19. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  20. Did you ________________ the button?
  21. I've got to change the light ________________.
  22. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  23. Have you found your soul ________________?
  24. We're on a ________________ here.

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

Answer key

  1. date — the fruit
  2. bulb — of a plant
  3. bulb — for light
  4. date — on the calendar
  5. bowl — a dish
  6. press — newspapers
  7. hide — to keep secret
  8. mate — a friend
  9. press — a publisher
  10. roll — a list
  11. bowl — a football final
  12. hide — to keep secret
  13. date — on the calendar
  14. content — videos and posts
  15. roll — a cake
  16. content — the amount
  17. bowl — to roll
  18. mate — to breed
  19. content — happy
  20. press — to push
  21. bulb — for light
  22. hide — animal skin
  23. mate — a partner
  24. roll — on a roll

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