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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: saw · shower · press · stem · key · leaves · swing · ruler

  1. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  2. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  3. She's very handy with a ________________.
  4. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  5. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  6. He works in a ________________ mill.
  7. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  8. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  9. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  10. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  11. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  12. David sat on the ________________.
  13. This piece is in a major ________________.
  14. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  15. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  16. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  17. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  18. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  19. Did you ________________ the button?
  20. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  21. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  22. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  23. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  24. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — of a tree
  2. shower — rain
  3. saw — the tool
  4. leaves — to go away
  5. ruler — for measuring
  6. saw — the tool
  7. shower — to wash
  8. shower — a meteor shower
  9. stem — a stem cell
  10. saw — past of 'see'
  11. ruler — for measuring
  12. swing — to play on
  13. key — in music
  14. stem — of a plant
  15. leaves — lets stay
  16. key — the most important part
  17. swing — music
  18. swing — in golf
  19. press — to push
  20. press — newspapers
  21. key — for a lock
  22. stem — to come from
  23. ruler — a monarch
  24. press — a publisher

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