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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. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  2. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  3. Did you ________________ the button?
  4. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  5. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  6. We're on a ________________ here.
  7. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  8. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  9. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  10. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  11. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  12. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  13. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  14. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  15. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  16. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  17. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  18. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  19. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  20. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  21. The tickets are free of ________________.
  22. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  23. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  24. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. press — newspapers
  2. drill — a practice
  3. press — to push
  4. charge — electricity
  5. calf — a young animal
  6. roll — on a roll
  7. press — a publisher
  8. drill — the tool
  9. prune — the fruit
  10. drill — army training
  11. pit — a fruit stone
  12. fan — a supporter
  13. fan — a supporter
  14. fan — to cool the air
  15. roll — a list
  16. pit — in a race
  17. calf — of the leg
  18. calf — a young animal
  19. prune — to trim
  20. prune — to trim
  21. charge — a price
  22. pit — a hole
  23. charge — in control
  24. roll — a cake

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