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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. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  2. Don't do anything ________________.
  3. Did you ________________ the button?
  4. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  5. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  6. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  7. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  8. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  9. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  10. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  11. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  12. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  13. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  14. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  15. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  16. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  17. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  18. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  19. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  20. The tickets are free of ________________.
  21. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  22. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  23. I can't ________________ this cold.
  24. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. calf — of the leg
  2. rash — hasty
  3. press — to push
  4. stand — on your feet
  5. rash — on the skin
  6. press — newspapers
  7. stem — of a plant
  8. net — after costs
  9. charge — electricity
  10. mark — a trace
  11. press — a publisher
  12. net — for catching
  13. stem — to come from
  14. calf — a young animal
  15. net — in sport
  16. stem — a stem cell
  17. charge — in control
  18. calf — a young animal
  19. rash — a series
  20. charge — a price
  21. mark — to pay attention
  22. mark — a grade
  23. stand — to bear
  24. stand — for spectators

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