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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. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  2. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  3. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  4. There's no middle ________________.
  5. Did you ________________ the button?
  6. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  7. The tickets are free of ________________.
  8. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  9. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  10. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  11. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  12. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  13. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  14. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  15. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  16. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  17. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  18. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  19. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  20. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  21. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  22. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  23. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  24. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.

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

Answer key

  1. charge — electricity
  2. press — newspapers
  3. bowl — a dish
  4. ground — a position
  5. press — to push
  6. field — farmland
  7. charge — a price
  8. mouse — the animal
  9. current — of water
  10. bowl — a football final
  11. field — for sport
  12. bowl — to roll
  13. current — happening now
  14. safe — a strongbox
  15. mouse — for a computer
  16. field — a subject
  17. mouse — the animal
  18. ground — crushed
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. ground — the earth
  21. press — a publisher
  22. current — electric
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. charge — in control

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