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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. Did you ________________ the button?
  2. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  3. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  4. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  5. That was ________________ to happen.
  6. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  7. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  8. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  9. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  10. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  11. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  12. That must've been a ________________.
  13. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  14. Hold the papers together with a ________________.
  15. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  16. How can I extract the audio from a video ________________?
  17. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  18. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  19. My mare is ________________ in color.
  20. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  21. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  22. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  23. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.
  24. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.

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

Answer key

  1. press — to push
  2. current — electric
  3. perch — for a bird
  4. chip — to eat
  5. bound — certain
  6. chip — in a computer
  7. perch — the fish
  8. perch — for a bird
  9. chip — for betting
  10. bound — obliged
  11. bay — to keep at bay
  12. rush — a thrill
  13. press — newspapers
  14. clip — for paper
  15. current — happening now
  16. clip — a video
  17. bay — a part of the sea
  18. rush — to hurry
  19. bay — a horse colour
  20. rush — hurry
  21. current — of water
  22. bound — tied together
  23. clip — to cut
  24. press — a publisher

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