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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: suit · land · bowl · bulb · wave · ruler · deal · press

  1. Did you ________________ the button?
  2. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  3. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  4. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  5. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  6. I've got to change the light ________________.
  7. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  8. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  9. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  10. The light ________________ burned out.
  11. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  12. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  13. When are we going to ________________?
  14. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  15. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  16. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  17. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  18. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  19. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  20. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  21. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  22. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  23. When will it ________________ you to start?
  24. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.

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

Answer key

  1. press — to push
  2. bowl — to roll
  3. deal — to handle
  4. ruler — a monarch
  5. land — ground
  6. bulb — for light
  7. deal — a big deal
  8. bowl — a football final
  9. press — a publisher
  10. bulb — for light
  11. press — newspapers
  12. deal — an agreement
  13. land — to come down
  14. bulb — of a plant
  15. wave — a sudden rise
  16. ruler — for measuring
  17. suit — clothes
  18. land — a country
  19. suit — in cards
  20. bowl — a dish
  21. wave — of the sea
  22. ruler — for measuring
  23. suit — to fit
  24. wave — with your hand

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