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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: current · racket · press · calf · rush · toast · key · march

  1. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  2. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  3. This piece is in a major ________________.
  4. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  5. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  6. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  7. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  8. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  9. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  10. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  11. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  12. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  13. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  14. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  15. Did you ________________ the button?
  16. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  17. That must've been a ________________.
  18. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  19. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  20. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  21. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  22. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  23. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  24. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.

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

Answer key

  1. press — a publisher
  2. racket — for tennis
  3. key — in music
  4. calf — a young animal
  5. toast — the most admired
  6. current — electric
  7. racket — a loud noise
  8. rush — hurry
  9. current — of water
  10. press — newspapers
  11. calf — of the leg
  12. march — the month
  13. racket — for tennis
  14. key — the most important part
  15. press — to push
  16. calf — a young animal
  17. rush — a thrill
  18. key — for a lock
  19. march — music
  20. rush — to hurry
  21. march — the month
  22. toast — a drink to someone
  23. current — happening now
  24. toast — bread

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