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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 120 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: lash · cabinet · pitcher · foot · press · charge · racket · fan

  1. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  2. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  3. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  4. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  5. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  6. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  7. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  8. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  9. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  10. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  11. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  12. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  13. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  14. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  15. He is an ace ________________.
  16. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  17. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  18. What do you think of the new ________________?
  19. Did you ________________ the button?
  20. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  21. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  22. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  23. The tickets are free of ________________.
  24. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.

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

Answer key

  1. fan — a supporter
  2. fan — to cool the air
  3. fan — a supporter
  4. lash — a whip stroke
  5. charge — electricity
  6. foot — a measure
  7. racket — for tennis
  8. press — a publisher
  9. cabinet — a cupboard
  10. lash — to lash out
  11. racket — a loud noise
  12. press — newspapers
  13. racket — for tennis
  14. pitcher — a jug
  15. pitcher — in baseball
  16. cabinet — ministers
  17. lash — an eyelash
  18. cabinet — ministers
  19. press — to push
  20. foot — part of the body
  21. charge — in control
  22. foot — the bottom
  23. charge — a price
  24. pitcher — a jug

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