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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. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  2. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  3. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  4. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  5. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  6. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  7. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  8. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  9. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  10. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  11. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  12. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  13. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  14. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  15. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  16. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  17. Did you ________________ the button?
  18. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  19. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  20. When will it ________________ you to start?
  21. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  22. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  23. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  24. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.

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

Answer key

  1. stick — a piece of wood
  2. can — to be able to
  3. pit — a fruit stone
  4. can — a tin
  5. perch — for a bird
  6. current — electric
  7. stick — to attach or keep to
  8. snap — to click
  9. press — newspapers
  10. suit — clothes
  11. can — a tin
  12. perch — the fish
  13. snap — to speak sharply
  14. perch — for a bird
  15. stick — a piece of wood
  16. pit — a hole
  17. press — to push
  18. suit — in cards
  19. current — of water
  20. suit — to fit
  21. current — happening now
  22. press — a publisher
  23. pit — in a race
  24. snap — to snap out of it

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