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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. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  2. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  3. Did you ________________ the button?
  4. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  5. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  6. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  7. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  8. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  9. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  10. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  11. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  12. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  13. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.
  14. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  15. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  16. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  17. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  18. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  19. Hold the papers together with a ________________.
  20. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  21. How can I extract the audio from a video ________________?
  22. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  23. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  24. What do you think of the new ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. current — of water
  2. press — newspapers
  3. press — to push
  4. can — a tin
  5. ruler — for measuring
  6. prune — the fruit
  7. calf — a young animal
  8. ruler — a monarch
  9. ruler — for measuring
  10. press — a publisher
  11. cabinet — ministers
  12. prune — to trim
  13. clip — to cut
  14. current — happening now
  15. cabinet — a cupboard
  16. prune — to trim
  17. can — a tin
  18. calf — a young animal
  19. clip — for paper
  20. current — electric
  21. clip — a video
  22. calf — of the leg
  23. can — to be able to
  24. cabinet — ministers

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