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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. Winning one ________________ isn't the same as dominating a sport.
  2. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  3. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  4. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  5. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  6. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  7. Only by prohibiting all nuclear weapons, we can together stop the arms ________________.
  8. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  9. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  10. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  11. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  12. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  13. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  14. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  15. Atomic bombs are a danger to the human ________________.
  16. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  17. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  18. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  19. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  20. The light ________________ burned out.
  21. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  22. I've got to change the light ________________.
  23. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  24. Did you ________________ the button?

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

Answer key

  1. race — a contest
  2. deal — to handle
  3. current — happening now
  4. branch — of a tree
  5. bore — to drill
  6. calf — a young animal
  7. race — the arms race
  8. calf — a young animal
  9. branch — of a bank
  10. press — newspapers
  11. bulb — of a plant
  12. calf — of the leg
  13. bore — to tire
  14. deal — an agreement
  15. race — humankind
  16. branch — a division
  17. current — of water
  18. deal — a big deal
  19. bore — gave birth
  20. bulb — for light
  21. press — a publisher
  22. bulb — for light
  23. current — electric
  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