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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. He is an ace ________________.
  2. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  3. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  4. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  5. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  6. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  7. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  8. When was this ________________ built?
  9. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  10. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  11. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  12. Did you ________________ the button?
  13. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  14. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  15. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  16. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  17. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  18. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  19. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  20. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  21. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  22. The ________________ took off on time.
  23. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  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. pitcher — in baseball
  2. temple — side of the head
  3. plane — in geometry
  4. current — electric
  5. press — newspapers
  6. current — happening now
  7. temple — a place of worship
  8. temple — a place of worship
  9. hide — to keep secret
  10. current — of water
  11. drill — a practice
  12. press — to push
  13. chair — a professorship
  14. plane — a tool
  15. hide — to keep secret
  16. chair — to sit on
  17. drill — army training
  18. hide — animal skin
  19. pitcher — a jug
  20. drill — the tool
  21. pitcher — a jug
  22. plane — an aircraft
  23. chair — a leader
  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