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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: mark · current · hide · staff · press · bore · sharp · saw

  1. It's one o'clock ________________.
  2. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  3. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  4. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  5. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  6. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  7. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  8. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  9. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  10. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  11. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  12. Did you ________________ the button?
  13. She's very handy with a ________________.
  14. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  15. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  16. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  17. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  18. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  19. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  20. He works in a ________________ mill.
  21. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  22. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  23. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  24. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.

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

Answer key

  1. sharp — exactly
  2. hide — to keep secret
  3. staff — employees
  4. saw — past of 'see'
  5. bore — to drill
  6. hide — to keep secret
  7. hide — animal skin
  8. current — electric
  9. press — a publisher
  10. current — happening now
  11. sharp — clever
  12. press — to push
  13. saw — the tool
  14. mark — to pay attention
  15. sharp — with an edge
  16. bore — gave birth
  17. mark — a grade
  18. staff — employees
  19. mark — a trace
  20. saw — the tool
  21. bore — to tire
  22. staff — a stick
  23. current — of water
  24. press — newspapers

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