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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. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  2. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  3. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  4. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  5. Don't do anything ________________.
  6. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  7. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  8. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  9. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  10. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  11. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  12. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  13. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  14. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  15. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  16. Did you ________________ the button?
  17. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  18. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  19. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  20. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  21. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  22. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  23. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  24. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.

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

Answer key

  1. current — happening now
  2. rash — a series
  3. dip — a sauce
  4. press — newspapers
  5. rash — hasty
  6. mark — a trace
  7. current — electric
  8. safe — a strongbox
  9. rock — music
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. fall — the season
  12. rash — on the skin
  13. current — of water
  14. dip — to sink
  15. dip — to dunk
  16. press — to push
  17. rock — to move gently
  18. rock — a stone
  19. fall — to drop
  20. mark — a grade
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. press — a publisher
  23. mark — to pay attention
  24. fall — to drop

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