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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. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  2. Did you ________________ the button?
  3. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  4. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  5. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  6. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  7. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  8. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  9. She's very handy with a ________________.
  10. You don't need to ________________ round.
  11. He works in a ________________ mill.
  12. That was ________________ to happen.
  13. This piece is in a major ________________.
  14. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  15. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  16. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  17. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  18. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  19. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  20. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  21. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  22. We're almost out of ________________.
  23. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  24. Let us try to swim against the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. press — newspapers
  2. press — to push
  3. key — for a lock
  4. current — happening now
  5. rest — what's left
  6. rest — what's left
  7. key — the most important part
  8. board — a flat piece
  9. saw — the tool
  10. pop — to visit
  11. saw — the tool
  12. bound — certain
  13. key — in music
  14. board — a committee
  15. rest — a break
  16. current — electric
  17. bound — obliged
  18. board — to get on
  19. bound — tied together
  20. saw — past of 'see'
  21. pop — music
  22. pop — soda
  23. press — a publisher
  24. current — of water

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