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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: vault · can · press · mug · toast · file · bulb · rest

  1. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  2. I've got to change the light ________________.
  3. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  4. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  5. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  6. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  7. Did you ________________ the button?
  8. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  9. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  10. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  11. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  12. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  13. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  14. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  15. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  16. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  17. The light ________________ burned out.
  18. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  19. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  20. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  21. Where did you ________________ them?
  22. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  23. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  24. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. can — a tin
  2. bulb — for light
  3. mug — a face
  4. file — a line of people
  5. toast — a drink to someone
  6. press — a publisher
  7. press — to push
  8. rest — a break
  9. mug — a cup
  10. vault — a safe
  11. can — to be able to
  12. vault — in gymnastics
  13. press — newspapers
  14. bulb — of a plant
  15. can — a tin
  16. file — a document
  17. bulb — for light
  18. vault — an arched ceiling
  19. rest — what's left
  20. toast — bread
  21. mug — to rob
  22. rest — what's left
  23. toast — the most admired
  24. file — a tool

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