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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 120 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. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  2. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  3. He works in a ________________ mill.
  4. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  5. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  6. When will it ________________ you to start?
  7. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  8. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  9. She's very handy with a ________________.
  10. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  11. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  12. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  13. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  14. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  15. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  16. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  17. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  18. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  19. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  20. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  21. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  22. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  23. Did you ________________ the button?
  24. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.

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

Answer key

  1. saw — past of 'see'
  2. press — a publisher
  3. saw — the tool
  4. current — electric
  5. track — to keep track
  6. suit — to fit
  7. leaves — lets stay
  8. ruler — a monarch
  9. saw — the tool
  10. track — a song
  11. leaves — to go away
  12. current — of water
  13. leaves — of a tree
  14. ruler — for measuring
  15. pit — a fruit stone
  16. pit — a hole
  17. suit — in cards
  18. pit — in a race
  19. track — a path
  20. press — newspapers
  21. ruler — for measuring
  22. current — happening now
  23. press — to push
  24. suit — clothes

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