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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. That must've been a ________________.
  2. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  3. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  4. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  5. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  6. Did you ________________ the button?
  7. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  8. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  9. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  10. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  11. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  12. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  13. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  14. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  15. The ________________ took off on time.
  16. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  17. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  18. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  19. He works in a ________________ mill.
  20. I've got to change the light ________________.
  21. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  22. The light ________________ burned out.
  23. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  24. She's very handy with a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. rush — a thrill
  2. firm — decided
  3. pitch — a sales talk
  4. bulb — of a plant
  5. firm — a company
  6. press — to push
  7. pitch — completely
  8. press — a publisher
  9. plane — in geometry
  10. current — happening now
  11. current — electric
  12. firm — steady
  13. rush — to hurry
  14. press — newspapers
  15. plane — an aircraft
  16. plane — a tool
  17. rush — hurry
  18. saw — past of 'see'
  19. saw — the tool
  20. bulb — for light
  21. current — of water
  22. bulb — for light
  23. pitch — a sports field
  24. saw — the tool

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