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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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Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: perch · mug · press · drill · object · charge · toast · net

  1. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  2. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  3. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  4. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  5. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  6. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  7. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  8. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  9. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  10. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  11. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  12. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  13. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  14. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  15. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  16. Where did you ________________ them?
  17. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  18. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  19. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  20. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  21. Did you ________________ the button?
  22. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  23. The tickets are free of ________________.
  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. net — in sport
  2. drill — a practice
  3. mug — a cup
  4. charge — electricity
  5. toast — a drink to someone
  6. perch — the fish
  7. object — a thing
  8. net — after costs
  9. mug — a face
  10. object — to protest
  11. perch — for a bird
  12. press — newspapers
  13. object — an aim
  14. toast — bread
  15. charge — in control
  16. mug — to rob
  17. drill — the tool
  18. perch — for a bird
  19. toast — the most admired
  20. net — for catching
  21. press — to push
  22. drill — army training
  23. charge — a price
  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