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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. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  2. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  3. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  4. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  5. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  6. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  7. When are we going to ________________?
  8. This piece is in a major ________________.
  9. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  10. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  11. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  12. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  13. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  14. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  15. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  16. Did you ________________ the button?
  17. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  18. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  19. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  20. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  21. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  22. How do you ________________ your surname?
  23. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  24. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.

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

Answer key

  1. deal — to handle
  2. current — of water
  3. land — ground
  4. bore — to drill
  5. racket — for tennis
  6. press — newspapers
  7. land — to come down
  8. key — in music
  9. deal — a big deal
  10. spell — a short time
  11. key — for a lock
  12. land — a country
  13. current — happening now
  14. current — electric
  15. spell — magic
  16. press — to push
  17. deal — an agreement
  18. key — the most important part
  19. bore — to tire
  20. racket — a loud noise
  21. press — a publisher
  22. spell — letters
  23. racket — for tennis
  24. bore — gave birth

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