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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. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  2. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  3. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  4. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  5. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  6. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  7. This piece is in a major ________________.
  8. That was ________________ to happen.
  9. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  10. The ________________ went through the wall.
  11. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  12. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  13. That must've been a ________________.
  14. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  15. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  16. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  17. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  18. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  19. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  20. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  21. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  22. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  23. Did you ________________ the button?
  24. Take your time. There's no ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. rush — to hurry
  2. bowl — to roll
  3. current — electric
  4. press — newspapers
  5. key — the most important part
  6. fine — high quality
  7. key — in music
  8. bound — certain
  9. current — happening now
  10. nail — for a hammer
  11. press — a publisher
  12. bound — tied together
  13. rush — a thrill
  14. fine — a penalty
  15. key — for a lock
  16. nail — for a hammer
  17. bowl — a dish
  18. bound — obliged
  19. fine — all right
  20. nail — on a finger
  21. bowl — a football final
  22. current — of water
  23. press — to push
  24. rush — hurry

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