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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. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  2. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  3. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  4. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  5. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  6. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  7. Did you ________________ the button?
  8. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  9. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  10. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  11. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  12. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  13. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  14. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  15. The tickets are free of ________________.
  16. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  17. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  18. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  19. That must've been a ________________.
  20. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  21. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  22. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  23. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  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. staff — employees
  2. press — newspapers
  3. mine — belonging to me
  4. rush — to hurry
  5. charge — in control
  6. branch — of a bank
  7. press — to push
  8. mine — an explosive
  9. calf — a young animal
  10. staff — a stick
  11. press — a publisher
  12. staff — employees
  13. current — of water
  14. calf — a young animal
  15. charge — a price
  16. mine — for digging
  17. current — electric
  18. calf — of the leg
  19. rush — a thrill
  20. branch — a division
  21. charge — electricity
  22. rush — hurry
  23. branch — of a tree
  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