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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. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  2. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  3. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  4. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  5. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  6. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  7. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  8. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  9. Don't do anything ________________.
  10. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  11. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  12. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  13. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  14. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  15. The tickets are free of ________________.
  16. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  17. Did you ________________ the button?
  18. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  19. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  20. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  21. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  22. That must've been a ________________.
  23. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  24. He was blown up by a land ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. can — a tin
  2. shower — a meteor shower
  3. rush — to hurry
  4. shower — rain
  5. can — a tin
  6. charge — electricity
  7. press — a publisher
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. rash — hasty
  10. charge — in control
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. rush — hurry
  13. mine — for digging
  14. safe — a strongbox
  15. charge — a price
  16. rash — on the skin
  17. press — to push
  18. mine — belonging to me
  19. shower — to wash
  20. rash — a series
  21. can — to be able to
  22. rush — a thrill
  23. press — newspapers
  24. mine — an explosive

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