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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: press · current · season · lie · temple · stand · game · racket

  1. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  2. Did you ________________ the button?
  3. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  4. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  5. When was this ________________ built?
  6. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  7. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  8. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  9. That was a fun ________________.
  10. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  11. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  12. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  13. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  14. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  15. Did you ________________ the meat?
  16. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  17. I can't ________________ this cold.
  18. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  19. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  20. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  21. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  22. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  23. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  24. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.

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

Answer key

  1. stand — on your feet
  2. press — to push
  3. press — newspapers
  4. current — electric
  5. temple — a place of worship
  6. racket — for tennis
  7. temple — side of the head
  8. lie — an untruth
  9. game — a match
  10. lie — an untruth
  11. current — happening now
  12. game — wild animals
  13. game — a kind of play
  14. temple — a place of worship
  15. season — to add flavour
  16. season — of the year
  17. stand — to bear
  18. stand — for spectators
  19. racket — a loud noise
  20. current — of water
  21. press — a publisher
  22. lie — to recline
  23. season — in sport
  24. racket — for tennis

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