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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: key · snap · current · season · calf · pitcher · press · tube

  1. Did you ________________ the button?
  2. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  3. I'll be taking the ________________.
  4. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  5. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  6. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  7. This piece is in a major ________________.
  8. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  9. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  10. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  11. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  12. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  13. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  14. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  15. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  16. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  17. He is an ace ________________.
  18. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  19. Did you ________________ the meat?
  20. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  21. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  22. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  23. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  24. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. press — to push
  2. current — happening now
  3. tube — the underground
  4. season — of the year
  5. key — for a lock
  6. tube — a container
  7. key — in music
  8. press — newspapers
  9. calf — of the leg
  10. pitcher — a jug
  11. key — the most important part
  12. snap — to click
  13. press — a publisher
  14. snap — to snap out of it
  15. current — of water
  16. current — electric
  17. pitcher — in baseball
  18. tube — in a tire
  19. season — to add flavour
  20. pitcher — a jug
  21. calf — a young animal
  22. snap — to speak sharply
  23. calf — a young animal
  24. season — in sport

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