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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. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  2. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  3. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  4. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  5. Did you ________________ the button?
  6. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  7. You don't need to ________________ round.
  8. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  9. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  10. We're almost out of ________________.
  11. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  12. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  13. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  14. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  15. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  16. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  17. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  18. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  19. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  20. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  21. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  22. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  23. Don't do anything ________________.
  24. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.

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

Answer key

  1. row — a quarrel
  2. row — a line
  3. press — a publisher
  4. foot — part of the body
  5. press — to push
  6. face — part of the head
  7. pop — to visit
  8. foot — a measure
  9. face — to confront
  10. pop — soda
  11. current — of water
  12. safe — a strongbox
  13. foot — the bottom
  14. pop — music
  15. row — to paddle
  16. press — newspapers
  17. rash — a series
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. current — happening now
  20. current — electric
  21. rash — on the skin
  22. face — to point toward
  23. rash — hasty
  24. safe — out of danger

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