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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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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. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  2. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  3. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  4. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  5. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  6. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  7. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  8. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  9. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  10. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  11. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  12. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  13. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  14. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  15. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  16. When will it ________________ you to start?
  17. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  18. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  19. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  20. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  21. Did you ________________ the button?
  22. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  23. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  24. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.

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

Answer key

  1. suit — in cards
  2. press — a publisher
  3. hide — animal skin
  4. lean — to rest against
  5. lean — thin
  6. current — happening now
  7. mark — a grade
  8. press — newspapers
  9. mark — to pay attention
  10. suit — clothes
  11. snap — to speak sharply
  12. fan — to cool the air
  13. lean — to bend
  14. hide — to keep secret
  15. hide — to keep secret
  16. suit — to fit
  17. snap — to snap out of it
  18. current — electric
  19. fan — a supporter
  20. mark — a trace
  21. press — to push
  22. fan — a supporter
  23. current — of water
  24. snap — to click

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