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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. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  3. We're almost out of ________________.
  4. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  5. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  6. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  7. Did you ________________ the meat?
  8. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  9. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  10. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  11. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  12. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  13. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  14. Where did you ________________ them?
  15. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  16. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  17. Did you ________________ the button?
  18. You don't need to ________________ round.
  19. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  20. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  21. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  22. Have you met the new head ________________?
  23. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  24. Spring is a pleasant ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. current — of water
  2. season — in sport
  3. pop — soda
  4. shower — a meteor shower
  5. mug — a face
  6. press — newspapers
  7. season — to add flavour
  8. mark — a trace
  9. mark — to pay attention
  10. press — a publisher
  11. coach — a trainer
  12. current — happening now
  13. pop — music
  14. mug — to rob
  15. coach — pulled by horses
  16. current — electric
  17. press — to push
  18. pop — to visit
  19. shower — rain
  20. mark — a grade
  21. shower — to wash
  22. coach — a trainer
  23. mug — a cup
  24. season — of the year

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