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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 pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  2. Did you ________________ the button?
  3. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  4. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  5. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  6. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  7. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  8. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  9. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  10. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  11. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  12. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  13. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  14. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  15. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  16. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  17. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  18. That was a fun ________________.
  19. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  20. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  21. This piece is in a major ________________.
  22. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  23. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  24. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. game — wild animals
  2. press — to push
  3. rest — what's left
  4. press — newspapers
  5. dip — to dunk
  6. key — for a lock
  7. current — happening now
  8. press — a publisher
  9. bear — the animal
  10. game — a kind of play
  11. current — of water
  12. rest — a break
  13. can — to be able to
  14. current — electric
  15. rest — what's left
  16. dip — to sink
  17. can — a tin
  18. game — a match
  19. key — the most important part
  20. can — a tin
  21. key — in music
  22. bear — to put up with
  23. dip — a sauce
  24. bear — the animal

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