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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 116 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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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  2. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  3. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  4. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  5. Did you ________________ the button?
  6. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  7. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  8. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  9. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  10. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  11. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  12. The King held a masked ________________.
  13. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  14. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  15. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  16. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  17. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  18. I'll be taking the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. current — of water
  2. board — a committee
  3. current — electric
  4. press — newspapers
  5. press — to push
  6. net — for catching
  7. tube — a container
  8. board — a flat piece
  9. tube — in a tire
  10. ball — a round shape
  11. net — in sport
  12. ball — a dance
  13. current — happening now
  14. net — after costs
  15. board — to get on
  16. ball — a great time
  17. press — a publisher
  18. tube — the underground

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