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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: ruler · saw · fine · bulb · jam · lie · press · date

  1. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  2. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  3. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  4. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  5. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  6. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  7. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  8. Have you settled on a ________________?
  9. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  10. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  11. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  12. I've got to change the light ________________.
  13. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  14. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  15. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  16. He works in a ________________ mill.
  17. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  18. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  19. She's very handy with a ________________.
  20. Did you ________________ the button?
  21. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  22. The light ________________ burned out.
  23. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  24. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. press — a publisher
  2. bulb — of a plant
  3. jam — a tight spot
  4. lie — to recline
  5. ruler — for measuring
  6. lie — an untruth
  7. press — newspapers
  8. date — on the calendar
  9. jam — to spread on bread
  10. fine — high quality
  11. fine — all right
  12. bulb — for light
  13. saw — past of 'see'
  14. lie — an untruth
  15. ruler — a monarch
  16. saw — the tool
  17. ruler — for measuring
  18. date — the fruit
  19. saw — the tool
  20. press — to push
  21. fine — a penalty
  22. bulb — for light
  23. date — on the calendar
  24. jam — in traffic

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