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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: suit · patient · sharp · pitcher · charge · wound · press · spring

  1. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  2. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  3. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  4. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  5. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  6. The tickets are free of ________________.
  7. It's one o'clock ________________.
  8. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  9. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  10. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  11. Did you ________________ the button?
  12. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  13. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  14. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  15. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  16. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  17. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  18. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  19. When will it ________________ you to start?
  20. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  21. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  22. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  23. He is an ace ________________.
  24. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.

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

Answer key

  1. press — a publisher
  2. charge — in control
  3. wound — an injury
  4. suit — in cards
  5. patient — calm and waiting
  6. charge — a price
  7. sharp — exactly
  8. charge — electricity
  9. wound — an injury
  10. pitcher — a jug
  11. press — to push
  12. press — newspapers
  13. patient — a sick person
  14. wound — past of 'wind'
  15. patient — a sick person
  16. sharp — clever
  17. sharp — with an edge
  18. pitcher — a jug
  19. suit — to fit
  20. spring — of water
  21. spring — a coil
  22. spring — the season
  23. pitcher — in baseball
  24. suit — clothes

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