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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 120 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.

Make a worksheet

Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

Words on the sheet
468
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: file · arm · swing · press · game · nail · key · charge

  1. That was a fun ________________.
  2. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  3. Did you ________________ the button?
  4. My father caught me by the ________________.
  5. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  6. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  7. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  8. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  9. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  10. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  11. The ________________ went through the wall.
  12. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  13. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  14. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  15. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  16. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  17. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  18. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  19. David sat on the ________________.
  20. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  21. The tickets are free of ________________.
  22. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  23. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  24. This piece is in a major ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. game — a match
  2. press — newspapers
  3. press — to push
  4. arm — part of the body
  5. file — a tool
  6. arm — a part of something
  7. key — for a lock
  8. charge — electricity
  9. key — the most important part
  10. file — a document
  11. nail — for a hammer
  12. charge — in control
  13. swing — music
  14. game — a kind of play
  15. nail — for a hammer
  16. game — wild animals
  17. nail — on a finger
  18. press — a publisher
  19. swing — to play on
  20. file — a line of people
  21. charge — a price
  22. arm — part of the body
  23. swing — in golf
  24. key — in music

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