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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 116 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: rush · press · rock · bulb · mate · leaves · sharp · track

  1. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  2. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  3. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  4. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  5. Have you found your soul ________________?
  6. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  7. The light ________________ burned out.
  8. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  9. Did you ________________ the button?
  10. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  11. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  12. It's one o'clock ________________.
  13. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  14. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  15. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  16. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  17. That must've been a ________________.
  18. I've got to change the light ________________.
  19. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  20. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  21. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  22. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  23. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  24. He keeps ________________ of his days.

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

Answer key

  1. press — a publisher
  2. leaves — lets stay
  3. sharp — with an edge
  4. track — a path
  5. mate — a partner
  6. bulb — of a plant
  7. bulb — for light
  8. press — newspapers
  9. press — to push
  10. sharp — clever
  11. rush — hurry
  12. sharp — exactly
  13. rock — a stone
  14. rock — to move gently
  15. mate — a friend
  16. rush — to hurry
  17. rush — a thrill
  18. bulb — for light
  19. leaves — to go away
  20. mate — to breed
  21. track — a song
  22. leaves — of a tree
  23. rock — music
  24. track — to keep track

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