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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: nail · plane · hide · suit · pop · lash · press · charge

  1. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  2. The ________________ went through the wall.
  3. Did you ________________ the button?
  4. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  5. The tickets are free of ________________.
  6. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  7. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  8. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  9. We're almost out of ________________.
  10. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  11. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  12. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  13. You don't need to ________________ round.
  14. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  15. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  16. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  17. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  18. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  19. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  20. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  21. When will it ________________ you to start?
  22. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  23. The ________________ took off on time.
  24. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. hide — animal skin
  2. nail — for a hammer
  3. press — to push
  4. press — a publisher
  5. charge — a price
  6. plane — a tool
  7. nail — for a hammer
  8. charge — in control
  9. pop — soda
  10. charge — electricity
  11. lash — to lash out
  12. press — newspapers
  13. pop — to visit
  14. plane — in geometry
  15. lash — an eyelash
  16. hide — to keep secret
  17. pop — music
  18. suit — in cards
  19. hide — to keep secret
  20. nail — on a finger
  21. suit — to fit
  22. suit — clothes
  23. plane — an aircraft
  24. lash — a whip stroke

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