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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 116 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 · file · rest · safe · lash · board · key · current

  1. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  2. This piece is in a major ________________.
  3. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  4. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  5. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  6. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  7. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  8. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  9. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  10. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  11. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  12. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  13. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  14. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  15. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  16. Did you ________________ the button?
  17. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  18. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  19. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  20. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  21. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  22. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  23. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  24. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.

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

Answer key

  1. press — newspapers
  2. key — in music
  3. file — a tool
  4. key — for a lock
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. file — a line of people
  7. current — electric
  8. board — to get on
  9. board — a committee
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. lash — a whip stroke
  12. safe — a strongbox
  13. rest — a break
  14. press — a publisher
  15. rest — what's left
  16. press — to push
  17. file — a document
  18. rest — what's left
  19. key — the most important part
  20. lash — to lash out
  21. lash — an eyelash
  22. current — of water
  23. board — a flat piece
  24. current — happening now

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