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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: prune · safe · press · charge · last · lie · pitch · roll

  1. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  2. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  3. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  4. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  5. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  6. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  7. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  8. The tickets are free of ________________.
  9. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  10. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  11. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  12. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  13. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  14. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  15. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  16. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  17. False peace will not ________________.
  18. We're on a ________________ here.
  19. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  20. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  21. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  22. Did you ________________ the button?
  23. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  24. Is it ________________ for us to be here?

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

Answer key

  1. lie — an untruth
  2. last — final
  3. charge — in control
  4. pitch — completely
  5. prune — to trim
  6. press — newspapers
  7. last — finally
  8. charge — a price
  9. charge — electricity
  10. press — a publisher
  11. lie — an untruth
  12. roll — a list
  13. safe — a strongbox
  14. prune — to trim
  15. roll — a cake
  16. pitch — a sports field
  17. last — to go on
  18. roll — on a roll
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. lie — to recline
  21. prune — the fruit
  22. press — to push
  23. pitch — a sales talk
  24. safe — out of danger

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