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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. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  2. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  3. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  4. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  5. Did you ________________ the button?
  6. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  7. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  8. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  9. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  10. I'll be taking the ________________.
  11. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  12. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  13. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  14. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  15. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  16. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  17. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  18. The ________________ went through the wall.
  19. What do you think of the new ________________?
  20. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  21. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  22. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  23. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  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. press — newspapers
  2. mark — a grade
  3. content — videos and posts
  4. current — electric
  5. press — to push
  6. tube — in a tire
  7. cabinet — ministers
  8. tube — a container
  9. stem — of a plant
  10. tube — the underground
  11. content — happy
  12. current — happening now
  13. content — the amount
  14. current — of water
  15. nail — for a hammer
  16. mark — a trace
  17. cabinet — a cupboard
  18. nail — for a hammer
  19. cabinet — ministers
  20. stem — to come from
  21. nail — on a finger
  22. mark — to pay attention
  23. stem — a stem cell
  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