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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: firm · date · mate · bore · prune · press · leaves · rush

  1. Have you settled on a ________________?
  2. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  3. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  4. That must've been a ________________.
  5. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  6. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  7. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  8. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  9. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  10. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  11. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  12. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  13. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  14. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  15. Have you found your soul ________________?
  16. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  17. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  18. Did you ________________ the button?
  19. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  20. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  21. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  22. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  23. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  24. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.

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

Answer key

  1. date — on the calendar
  2. press — newspapers
  3. leaves — of a tree
  4. rush — a thrill
  5. date — on the calendar
  6. date — the fruit
  7. bore — to tire
  8. rush — hurry
  9. firm — a company
  10. rush — to hurry
  11. firm — steady
  12. mate — to breed
  13. bore — gave birth
  14. mate — a friend
  15. mate — a partner
  16. bore — to drill
  17. leaves — to go away
  18. press — to push
  19. press — a publisher
  20. prune — the fruit
  21. firm — decided
  22. prune — to trim
  23. prune — to trim
  24. leaves — lets stay

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