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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 116 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: current · chair · root · press · prune · can · fine · bore

  1. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  2. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  3. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  4. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  5. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  6. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  7. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  8. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  9. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  10. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  11. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  12. Did you ________________ the button?
  13. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  14. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  15. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  16. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  17. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  18. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  19. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  20. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  21. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  22. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  23. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  24. A ________________ is just a dried plum.

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

Answer key

  1. bore — to drill
  2. root — the cause
  3. fine — a penalty
  4. fine — all right
  5. chair — to sit on
  6. prune — to trim
  7. chair — a leader
  8. current — electric
  9. root — of a word
  10. can — a tin
  11. bore — gave birth
  12. press — to push
  13. prune — to trim
  14. current — happening now
  15. bore — to tire
  16. can — a tin
  17. current — of water
  18. can — to be able to
  19. press — a publisher
  20. press — newspapers
  21. root — of a plant
  22. chair — a professorship
  23. fine — high quality
  24. prune — the fruit

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