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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. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  2. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  3. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  4. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  5. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  6. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  7. Did you ________________ the button?
  8. He works in a ________________ mill.
  9. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  10. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  11. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  12. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  13. Where did you ________________ them?
  14. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  15. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  16. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  17. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  18. She's very handy with a ________________.
  19. It's one o'clock ________________.
  20. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  21. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  22. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  23. Have you met the new head ________________?
  24. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. sharp — clever
  2. calf — of the leg
  3. saw — past of 'see'
  4. rock — music
  5. current — electric
  6. calf — a young animal
  7. press — to push
  8. saw — the tool
  9. coach — a trainer
  10. current — of water
  11. mug — a face
  12. coach — pulled by horses
  13. mug — to rob
  14. press — a publisher
  15. mug — a cup
  16. sharp — with an edge
  17. rock — to move gently
  18. saw — the tool
  19. sharp — exactly
  20. press — newspapers
  21. rock — a stone
  22. current — happening now
  23. coach — a trainer
  24. calf — a young animal

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