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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: lean · net · charge · craft · bound · rush · stem · press

  1. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  2. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  3. That was ________________ to happen.
  4. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  5. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  6. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  7. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  8. That must've been a ________________.
  9. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  10. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  11. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  12. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  13. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  14. The tickets are free of ________________.
  15. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  16. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  17. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  18. Did you ________________ the button?
  19. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  20. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  21. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  22. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  23. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  24. You shouldn't ________________ things.

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

Answer key

  1. bound — obliged
  2. press — newspapers
  3. bound — certain
  4. net — in sport
  5. lean — to bend
  6. stem — to come from
  7. craft — a skill
  8. rush — a thrill
  9. craft — boats
  10. stem — a stem cell
  11. charge — in control
  12. net — for catching
  13. bound — tied together
  14. charge — a price
  15. stem — of a plant
  16. net — after costs
  17. press — a publisher
  18. press — to push
  19. charge — electricity
  20. lean — thin
  21. rush — hurry
  22. craft — a handicraft
  23. lean — to rest against
  24. rush — to hurry

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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