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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 120 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: spring · season · press · can · prune · mug · suit · mine

  1. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  2. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  3. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  4. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  5. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  6. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  7. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  8. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  9. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  10. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  11. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  12. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  13. When will it ________________ you to start?
  14. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  15. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  16. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  17. Where did you ________________ them?
  18. Did you ________________ the button?
  19. Did you ________________ the meat?
  20. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  21. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  22. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  23. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  24. The flowers bloom in the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. season — in sport
  2. can — a tin
  3. press — a publisher
  4. suit — clothes
  5. prune — to trim
  6. mine — an explosive
  7. season — of the year
  8. can — a tin
  9. spring — of water
  10. mug — a cup
  11. mug — a face
  12. press — newspapers
  13. suit — to fit
  14. mine — for digging
  15. suit — in cards
  16. mine — belonging to me
  17. mug — to rob
  18. press — to push
  19. season — to add flavour
  20. prune — the fruit
  21. can — to be able to
  22. prune — to trim
  23. spring — a coil
  24. spring — the season

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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