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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: lash · season · cue · bulb · content · press · saw · ground

  1. She's very handy with a ________________.
  2. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  3. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  4. The light ________________ burned out.
  5. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  6. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  7. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  8. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  9. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  10. I've got to change the light ________________.
  11. He works in a ________________ mill.
  12. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  13. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  14. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  15. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  16. Did you ________________ the meat?
  17. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  18. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  19. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  20. Did you ________________ the button?
  21. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  22. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  23. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  24. There's no middle ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. saw — the tool
  2. cue — a hint
  3. press — newspapers
  4. bulb — for light
  5. lash — a whip stroke
  6. press — a publisher
  7. saw — past of 'see'
  8. content — videos and posts
  9. content — the amount
  10. bulb — for light
  11. saw — the tool
  12. content — happy
  13. lash — to lash out
  14. lash — an eyelash
  15. season — of the year
  16. season — to add flavour
  17. cue — a signal
  18. season — in sport
  19. bulb — of a plant
  20. press — to push
  21. ground — crushed
  22. cue — for pool
  23. ground — the earth
  24. ground — a position

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