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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. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  2. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  3. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  4. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  5. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  6. Did you ________________ the button?
  7. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  8. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  9. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  10. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  11. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  12. The tickets are free of ________________.
  13. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  14. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  15. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  16. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  17. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  18. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  19. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  20. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  21. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  22. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  23. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  24. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.

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

Answer key

  1. press — newspapers
  2. board — a committee
  3. snap — to click
  4. can — a tin
  5. bark — to shout
  6. press — to push
  7. press — a publisher
  8. bark — a dog's sound
  9. charge — in control
  10. wound — an injury
  11. deal — an agreement
  12. charge — a price
  13. charge — electricity
  14. wound — an injury
  15. can — to be able to
  16. bark — of a tree
  17. deal — to handle
  18. wound — past of 'wind'
  19. board — to get on
  20. deal — a big deal
  21. board — a flat piece
  22. snap — to speak sharply
  23. can — a tin
  24. snap — to snap out of it

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