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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. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  2. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  3. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  4. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  5. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  6. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  7. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  8. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  9. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  10. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  11. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  12. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  13. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  14. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  15. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  16. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  17. My mare is ________________ in color.
  18. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  19. Did you ________________ the button?
  20. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  21. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  22. Have you met the new head ________________?
  23. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  24. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. current — of water
  2. drill — the tool
  3. press — newspapers
  4. scale — for weighing
  5. bay — to keep at bay
  6. field — a subject
  7. pass — to succeed
  8. bay — a part of the sea
  9. pass — to spend time
  10. current — happening now
  11. current — electric
  12. field — for sport
  13. coach — a trainer
  14. scale — in music
  15. coach — pulled by horses
  16. press — a publisher
  17. bay — a horse colour
  18. drill — army training
  19. press — to push
  20. scale — size or range
  21. pass — a permit
  22. coach — a trainer
  23. drill — a practice
  24. field — farmland

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