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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. I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.
  2. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  3. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  4. The ________________ went through the wall.
  5. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  6. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  7. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  8. He is an ace ________________.
  9. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  10. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  11. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  12. The lid of the ________________ creaked open.
  13. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  14. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  15. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  16. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  17. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  18. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  19. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  20. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.
  21. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  22. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  23. Did you ________________ the button?
  24. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.

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

Answer key

  1. chest — of your body
  2. pitcher — a jug
  3. mouse — the animal
  4. nail — for a hammer
  5. pass — to succeed
  6. mouse — for a computer
  7. current — electric
  8. pitcher — in baseball
  9. pitcher — a jug
  10. ruler — for measuring
  11. press — newspapers
  12. chest — a box
  13. current — of water
  14. ruler — a monarch
  15. pass — a permit
  16. current — happening now
  17. nail — on a finger
  18. ruler — for measuring
  19. nail — for a hammer
  20. chest — of your body
  21. mouse — the animal
  22. pass — to spend time
  23. press — to push
  24. press — a publisher

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