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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 116 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. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  2. When will it ________________ you to start?
  3. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  4. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  5. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  6. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  7. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  8. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  9. It's one o'clock ________________.
  10. I can't ________________ this cold.
  11. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  12. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  13. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  14. I had a bad ________________ and was in bed for a week.
  15. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  16. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  17. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  18. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  19. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  20. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  21. Did you ________________ the button?
  22. Its rival in the ________________ War, the Soviet Union, exploited this at the time.
  23. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  24. The water is too ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. pit — a fruit stone
  2. suit — to fit
  3. suit — in cards
  4. press — a publisher
  5. current — of water
  6. pit — a hole
  7. sharp — clever
  8. stand — for spectators
  9. sharp — exactly
  10. stand — to bear
  11. press — newspapers
  12. safe — a strongbox
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. cold — an illness
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. stand — on your feet
  17. pit — in a race
  18. sharp — with an edge
  19. current — happening now
  20. suit — clothes
  21. press — to push
  22. cold — the Cold War
  23. current — electric
  24. cold — not warm

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