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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: press · temple · sharp · current · season · fine · ruler · key

  1. Did you ________________ the button?
  2. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  3. When was this ________________ built?
  4. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  5. Did you ________________ the meat?
  6. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  7. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  8. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  9. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  10. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  11. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  12. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  13. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  14. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  15. It's one o'clock ________________.
  16. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  17. This piece is in a major ________________.
  18. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  19. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  20. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  21. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  22. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  23. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  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. fine — high quality
  3. temple — a place of worship
  4. ruler — for measuring
  5. season — to add flavour
  6. sharp — clever
  7. key — for a lock
  8. sharp — with an edge
  9. fine — all right
  10. key — the most important part
  11. current — happening now
  12. temple — side of the head
  13. season — of the year
  14. ruler — a monarch
  15. sharp — exactly
  16. season — in sport
  17. key — in music
  18. fine — a penalty
  19. current — electric
  20. temple — a place of worship
  21. press — newspapers
  22. ruler — for measuring
  23. current — of water
  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