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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
468
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: spell · bass · charge · present · press · leaves · jam · net

  1. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  2. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  3. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  4. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  5. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  6. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  7. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  8. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  9. How do you ________________ your surname?
  10. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  11. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  12. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  13. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  14. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  15. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  16. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  17. Did you ________________ the button?
  18. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  19. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  20. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  21. The tickets are free of ________________.
  22. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  23. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  24. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.

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

Answer key

  1. bass — the fish
  2. press — newspapers
  3. net — for catching
  4. leaves — to go away
  5. net — in sport
  6. net — after costs
  7. bass — low music
  8. charge — electricity
  9. spell — letters
  10. leaves — of a tree
  11. jam — in traffic
  12. jam — to spread on bread
  13. jam — a tight spot
  14. present — the time now
  15. present — there
  16. spell — a short time
  17. press — to push
  18. present — a gift
  19. charge — in control
  20. bass — the instrument
  21. charge — a price
  22. spell — magic
  23. press — a publisher
  24. leaves — lets stay

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