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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. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  2. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  3. She's very handy with a ________________.
  4. He works in a ________________ mill.
  5. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  6. I'll be taking the ________________.
  7. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  8. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  9. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  10. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  11. Did you ________________ the meat?
  12. Did you ________________ the button?
  13. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  14. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  15. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  16. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  17. When will it ________________ you to start?
  18. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  19. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  20. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  21. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  22. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  23. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  24. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.

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

Answer key

  1. mine — for digging
  2. season — of the year
  3. saw — the tool
  4. saw — the tool
  5. saw — past of 'see'
  6. tube — the underground
  7. season — in sport
  8. tube — a container
  9. mine — belonging to me
  10. current — electric
  11. season — to add flavour
  12. press — to push
  13. pass — a permit
  14. press — newspapers
  15. pass — to succeed
  16. tube — in a tire
  17. suit — to fit
  18. press — a publisher
  19. suit — clothes
  20. current — happening now
  21. mine — an explosive
  22. current — of water
  23. suit — in cards
  24. pass — to spend time

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