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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: bound · tube · root · current · cue · prune · foot · press

  1. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  2. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  3. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  4. Did you ________________ the button?
  5. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  6. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  7. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  8. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  9. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  10. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  11. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  12. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  13. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  14. I'll be taking the ________________.
  15. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  16. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  17. That was ________________ to happen.
  18. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  19. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  20. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  21. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  22. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  23. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  24. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.

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

Answer key

  1. current — electric
  2. press — a publisher
  3. tube — in a tire
  4. press — to push
  5. tube — a container
  6. foot — a measure
  7. root — the cause
  8. current — happening now
  9. cue — a hint
  10. prune — to trim
  11. current — of water
  12. press — newspapers
  13. cue — for pool
  14. tube — the underground
  15. cue — a signal
  16. prune — the fruit
  17. bound — certain
  18. bound — obliged
  19. root — of a plant
  20. foot — part of the body
  21. root — of a word
  22. foot — the bottom
  23. bound — tied together
  24. prune — to trim

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