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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 120 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. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  2. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  3. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  4. That was a fun ________________.
  5. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  6. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  7. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  8. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  9. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  10. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  11. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  12. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  13. Did you ________________ the button?
  14. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  15. The tickets are free of ________________.
  16. What do you think of the new ________________?
  17. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  18. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  19. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  20. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  21. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  22. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  23. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  24. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — out of danger
  2. cabinet — ministers
  3. charge — in control
  4. game — a match
  5. current — electric
  6. cabinet — a cupboard
  7. safe — a strongbox
  8. shower — to wash
  9. mine — an explosive
  10. game — wild animals
  11. mine — for digging
  12. shower — a meteor shower
  13. press — to push
  14. shower — rain
  15. charge — a price
  16. cabinet — ministers
  17. current — of water
  18. press — newspapers
  19. charge — electricity
  20. game — a kind of play
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. current — happening now
  23. mine — belonging to me
  24. press — a publisher

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