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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. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  2. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  3. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  4. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  5. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  6. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  7. Did you ________________ the button?
  8. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  9. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  10. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  11. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  12. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  13. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  14. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  15. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  16. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  17. When was this ________________ built?
  18. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  19. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  20. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  21. Have you met the new head ________________?
  22. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  23. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  24. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.

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

Answer key

  1. chair — a professorship
  2. hand — part of the body
  3. press — newspapers
  4. press — a publisher
  5. board — to get on
  6. hand — help
  7. press — to push
  8. temple — a place of worship
  9. calf — a young animal
  10. hand — in cards
  11. current — electric
  12. chair — a leader
  13. board — a flat piece
  14. coach — a trainer
  15. coach — pulled by horses
  16. calf — of the leg
  17. temple — a place of worship
  18. board — a committee
  19. calf — a young animal
  20. current — happening now
  21. coach — a trainer
  22. current — of water
  23. chair — to sit on
  24. temple — side of the head

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