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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: press · wake · safe · face · current · plane · staff · game

  1. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  2. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  3. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  4. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  5. Did you ________________ the button?
  6. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  7. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  8. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  9. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  10. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  11. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  12. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  13. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  14. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  15. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  16. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  17. That was a fun ________________.
  18. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  19. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  20. The ________________ took off on time.
  21. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  22. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  23. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  24. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.

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

Answer key

  1. press — newspapers
  2. face — part of the head
  3. staff — a stick
  4. current — of water
  5. press — to push
  6. game — a kind of play
  7. staff — employees
  8. face — to confront
  9. current — electric
  10. face — to point toward
  11. game — wild animals
  12. press — a publisher
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. wake — a trail
  15. plane — in geometry
  16. staff — employees
  17. game — a match
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. wake — before a funeral
  20. plane — an aircraft
  21. current — happening now
  22. safe — a strongbox
  23. wake — to stop sleeping
  24. plane — a tool

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