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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 124 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. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  2. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  3. Did you ________________ the button?
  4. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  5. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  6. Don't do anything ________________.
  7. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  8. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  9. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  10. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  11. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  12. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  13. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  14. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  15. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  16. The ________________ took off on time.
  17. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  18. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  19. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  20. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  21. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  22. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  23. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  24. When was this ________________ built?

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

Answer key

  1. pitch — a sales talk
  2. pitch — a sports field
  3. press — to push
  4. plane — a tool
  5. rash — a series
  6. rash — hasty
  7. spring — a coil
  8. can — to be able to
  9. can — a tin
  10. spring — of water
  11. spring — the season
  12. press — newspapers
  13. can — a tin
  14. current — electric
  15. current — of water
  16. plane — an aircraft
  17. press — a publisher
  18. rash — on the skin
  19. temple — a place of worship
  20. current — happening now
  21. plane — in geometry
  22. temple — side of the head
  23. pitch — completely
  24. temple — a place of worship

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