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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
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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: press · fan · pit · mark · face · current · scale · bulb

  1. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  2. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  3. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  4. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  5. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  6. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  7. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  8. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  9. Did you ________________ the button?
  10. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  11. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  12. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  13. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  14. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  15. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  16. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  17. The light ________________ burned out.
  18. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  19. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  20. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  21. I've got to change the light ________________.
  22. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  23. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  24. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.

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

Answer key

  1. fan — a supporter
  2. face — to confront
  3. mark — to pay attention
  4. scale — in music
  5. current — electric
  6. scale — for weighing
  7. fan — to cool the air
  8. mark — a trace
  9. press — to push
  10. current — of water
  11. mark — a grade
  12. press — newspapers
  13. scale — size or range
  14. pit — a hole
  15. face — part of the head
  16. current — happening now
  17. bulb — for light
  18. bulb — of a plant
  19. face — to point toward
  20. pit — in a race
  21. bulb — for light
  22. pit — a fruit stone
  23. press — a publisher
  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