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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. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  2. Did you ________________ the button?
  3. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  4. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  5. What do you think of the new ________________?
  6. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  7. When are we going to ________________?
  8. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  9. When was this ________________ built?
  10. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  11. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  12. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  13. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  14. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  15. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  16. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  17. Where did you ________________ them?
  18. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  19. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  20. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  21. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  22. The King held a masked ________________.
  23. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  24. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.

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

Answer key

  1. fall — to drop
  2. press — to push
  3. cabinet — ministers
  4. current — of water
  5. cabinet — ministers
  6. temple — a place of worship
  7. land — to come down
  8. current — electric
  9. temple — a place of worship
  10. ball — a round shape
  11. press — newspapers
  12. ball — a great time
  13. fall — the season
  14. mug — a face
  15. cabinet — a cupboard
  16. land — a country
  17. mug — to rob
  18. land — ground
  19. mug — a cup
  20. temple — side of the head
  21. press — a publisher
  22. ball — a dance
  23. fall — to drop
  24. current — happening now

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