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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: staff · pound · can · press · rest · snap · charge · bank

  1. Did you ________________ the button?
  2. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  3. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  4. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  5. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  6. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  7. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  8. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  9. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  10. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  11. The tickets are free of ________________.
  12. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  13. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  14. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  15. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  16. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  17. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  18. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  19. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  20. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  21. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  22. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  23. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  24. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.

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

Answer key

  1. press — to push
  2. snap — to speak sharply
  3. bank — for money
  4. charge — in control
  5. press — newspapers
  6. pound — a weight
  7. bank — for money
  8. can — a tin
  9. snap — to click
  10. pound — for dogs
  11. charge — a price
  12. press — a publisher
  13. rest — what's left
  14. staff — employees
  15. pound — to hit hard
  16. charge — electricity
  17. bank — of a river
  18. snap — to snap out of it
  19. staff — a stick
  20. staff — employees
  21. can — to be able to
  22. rest — what's left
  23. rest — a break
  24. can — a tin

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