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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.

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: chip · current · fan · fine · safe · press · pass · chest

  1. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  2. I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.
  3. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  4. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  5. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  6. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  7. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  8. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  9. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  10. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  11. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  12. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  13. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  14. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  15. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  16. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.
  17. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  18. Did you ________________ the button?
  19. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  20. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  21. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  22. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  23. The lid of the ________________ creaked open.
  24. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?

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

Answer key

  1. fan — to cool the air
  2. chest — of your body
  3. safe — a strongbox
  4. chip — for betting
  5. fan — a supporter
  6. pass — to spend time
  7. current — of water
  8. fine — high quality
  9. pass — a permit
  10. chip — to eat
  11. press — a publisher
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. press — newspapers
  14. current — electric
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. chest — of your body
  17. chip — in a computer
  18. press — to push
  19. current — happening now
  20. fine — a penalty
  21. fine — all right
  22. pass — to succeed
  23. chest — a box
  24. fan — a supporter

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