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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 120 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: craft · lean · bulb · rash · kick · season · press · fan

  1. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  2. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  3. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  4. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  5. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  6. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  7. Don't do anything ________________.
  8. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  9. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  10. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  11. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  12. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  13. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  14. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  15. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  16. Did you ________________ the button?
  17. I've got to change the light ________________.
  18. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  19. The light ________________ burned out.
  20. Did you ________________ the meat?
  21. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  22. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  23. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  24. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.

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

Answer key

  1. press — newspapers
  2. press — a publisher
  3. lean — to rest against
  4. fan — a supporter
  5. lean — thin
  6. season — of the year
  7. rash — hasty
  8. kick — a thrill
  9. rash — on the skin
  10. lean — to bend
  11. fan — to cool the air
  12. craft — boats
  13. fan — a supporter
  14. craft — a handicraft
  15. season — in sport
  16. press — to push
  17. bulb — for light
  18. rash — a series
  19. bulb — for light
  20. season — to add flavour
  21. craft — a skill
  22. kick — in football
  23. bulb — of a plant
  24. kick — with a leg

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