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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. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  2. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  3. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  4. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  5. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  6. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  7. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  8. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  9. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  10. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  11. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  12. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  13. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  14. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  15. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  16. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  17. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  18. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  19. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  20. Did you ________________ the button?
  21. The tickets are free of ________________.
  22. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  23. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  24. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.

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

Answer key

  1. scale — size or range
  2. rock — to move gently
  3. spring — of water
  4. scale — in music
  5. rock — music
  6. press — a publisher
  7. perch — the fish
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. scale — for weighing
  10. safe — a strongbox
  11. face — part of the head
  12. face — to point toward
  13. perch — for a bird
  14. perch — for a bird
  15. spring — the season
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. charge — in control
  18. spring — a coil
  19. charge — electricity
  20. press — to push
  21. charge — a price
  22. rock — a stone
  23. face — to confront
  24. press — newspapers

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