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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 · calf · last · foot · fan · tube · hide · press

  1. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  2. I'll be taking the ________________.
  3. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  4. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  5. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  6. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  7. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  8. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  9. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  10. False peace will not ________________.
  11. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  12. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  13. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  14. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  15. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  16. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  17. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  18. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  19. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  20. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  21. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  22. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  23. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  24. Did you ________________ the button?

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

Answer key

  1. press — newspapers
  2. tube — the underground
  3. calf — a young animal
  4. fan — a supporter
  5. foot — a measure
  6. tube — a container
  7. last — final
  8. fan — to cool the air
  9. tube — in a tire
  10. last — to go on
  11. current — electric
  12. current — happening now
  13. foot — the bottom
  14. last — finally
  15. hide — to keep secret
  16. calf — of the leg
  17. hide — animal skin
  18. press — a publisher
  19. hide — to keep secret
  20. fan — a supporter
  21. foot — part of the body
  22. current — of water
  23. calf — a young animal
  24. press — to push

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