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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.

Words on the sheet
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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: calf · sharp · fan · bound · charge · present · press · pop

  1. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  2. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  3. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  4. That was ________________ to happen.
  5. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  6. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  7. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  8. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  9. You don't need to ________________ round.
  10. The tickets are free of ________________.
  11. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  12. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  13. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  14. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  15. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  16. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  17. We're almost out of ________________.
  18. Did you ________________ the button?
  19. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  20. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  21. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  22. It's one o'clock ________________.
  23. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  24. We are ________________ to obey laws.

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

Answer key

  1. charge — electricity
  2. bound — tied together
  3. present — there
  4. bound — certain
  5. calf — a young animal
  6. fan — a supporter
  7. fan — to cool the air
  8. sharp — clever
  9. pop — to visit
  10. charge — a price
  11. press — a publisher
  12. charge — in control
  13. press — newspapers
  14. present — the time now
  15. sharp — with an edge
  16. calf — of the leg
  17. pop — soda
  18. press — to push
  19. calf — a young animal
  20. present — a gift
  21. fan — a supporter
  22. sharp — exactly
  23. pop — music
  24. bound — obliged

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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