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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. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  2. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  3. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  4. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  5. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  6. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  7. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  8. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  9. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  10. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  11. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  12. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  13. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  14. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  15. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  16. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  17. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  18. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  19. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  20. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  21. Did you ________________ the button?
  22. I can't ________________ this cold.
  23. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  24. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.

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

Answer key

  1. current — of water
  2. lie — an untruth
  3. current — happening now
  4. face — to point toward
  5. lie — an untruth
  6. wax — for sculpting
  7. face — part of the head
  8. face — to confront
  9. stand — on your feet
  10. wax — to grow
  11. press — newspapers
  12. scale — in music
  13. press — a publisher
  14. board — a committee
  15. board — a flat piece
  16. scale — size or range
  17. wax — in the ear
  18. stand — for spectators
  19. board — to get on
  20. current — electric
  21. press — to push
  22. stand — to bear
  23. lie — to recline
  24. scale — for weighing

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