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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. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  2. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  3. I can't ________________ this cold.
  4. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  5. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  6. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  7. Its rival in the ________________ War, the Soviet Union, exploited this at the time.
  8. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  9. I had a bad ________________ and was in bed for a week.
  10. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  11. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  12. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  13. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  14. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  15. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  16. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  17. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  18. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  19. This piece is in a major ________________.
  20. Did you ________________ the button?
  21. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  22. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  23. The water is too ________________.
  24. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — to go away
  2. press — a publisher
  3. stand — to bear
  4. board — to get on
  5. current — of water
  6. jam — in traffic
  7. cold — the Cold War
  8. press — newspapers
  9. cold — an illness
  10. leaves — of a tree
  11. jam — to spread on bread
  12. board — a committee
  13. jam — a tight spot
  14. current — happening now
  15. stand — for spectators
  16. current — electric
  17. key — the most important part
  18. stand — on your feet
  19. key — in music
  20. press — to push
  21. board — a flat piece
  22. leaves — lets stay
  23. cold — not warm
  24. key — for a lock

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