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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
468
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: date · fan · temple · press · stick · shower · bulb · pass

  1. The light ________________ burned out.
  2. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  3. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  4. I've got to change the light ________________.
  5. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  6. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  7. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  8. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  9. Did you ________________ the button?
  10. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  11. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  12. Have you settled on a ________________?
  13. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  14. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  15. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  16. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  17. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  18. When was this ________________ built?
  19. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  20. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  21. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  22. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  23. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  24. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — for light
  2. stick — to attach or keep to
  3. fan — a supporter
  4. bulb — for light
  5. press — a publisher
  6. shower — a meteor shower
  7. fan — to cool the air
  8. temple — side of the head
  9. press — to push
  10. pass — a permit
  11. stick — a piece of wood
  12. date — on the calendar
  13. pass — to succeed
  14. date — the fruit
  15. shower — rain
  16. fan — a supporter
  17. bulb — of a plant
  18. temple — a place of worship
  19. temple — a place of worship
  20. stick — a piece of wood
  21. shower — to wash
  22. press — newspapers
  23. pass — to spend time
  24. date — on the calendar

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