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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.

Words on the sheet
468
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: mine · pitcher · pop · fan · stem · pass · toast · press

  1. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  2. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  3. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  4. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  5. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  6. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  7. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  8. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  9. You don't need to ________________ round.
  10. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  11. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  12. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  13. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  14. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  15. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  16. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  17. He is an ace ________________.
  18. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  19. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  20. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  21. We're almost out of ________________.
  22. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  23. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  24. Did you ________________ the button?

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

Answer key

  1. mine — for digging
  2. pitcher — a jug
  3. stem — of a plant
  4. stem — a stem cell
  5. toast — the most admired
  6. pass — to spend time
  7. press — a publisher
  8. fan — a supporter
  9. pop — to visit
  10. pitcher — a jug
  11. press — newspapers
  12. fan — to cool the air
  13. mine — belonging to me
  14. toast — a drink to someone
  15. fan — a supporter
  16. pass — to succeed
  17. pitcher — in baseball
  18. pass — a permit
  19. mine — an explosive
  20. toast — bread
  21. pop — soda
  22. stem — to come from
  23. pop — music
  24. press — to push

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