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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. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.
  2. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  3. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  4. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  5. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  6. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  7. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  8. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  9. Hold the papers together with a ________________.
  10. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  11. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  12. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  13. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  14. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  15. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  16. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  17. Where did you ________________ them?
  18. How can I extract the audio from a video ________________?
  19. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  20. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  21. That must've been a ________________.
  22. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  23. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  24. Did you ________________ the button?

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

Answer key

  1. clip — to cut
  2. net — for catching
  3. current — of water
  4. face — to point toward
  5. mug — a cup
  6. rush — hurry
  7. net — after costs
  8. net — in sport
  9. clip — for paper
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. press — a publisher
  12. rush — to hurry
  13. current — electric
  14. mug — a face
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. current — happening now
  17. mug — to rob
  18. clip — a video
  19. safe — a strongbox
  20. face — part of the head
  21. rush — a thrill
  22. press — newspapers
  23. face — to confront
  24. press — to push

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