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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 · wind · rush · jam · craft · chip · bound · safe

  1. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  2. Did you ________________ the button?
  3. That was ________________ to happen.
  4. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  5. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  6. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  7. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  8. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  9. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  10. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  11. The strong ________________ blew his hat off.
  12. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  13. That must've been a ________________.
  14. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  15. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  16. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  17. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  18. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  19. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  20. He sold his goods at a loss to ________________ up his business.
  21. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  22. It was raining hard, and to make things worse, the ________________ was beginning to rise.
  23. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  24. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.

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

Answer key

  1. craft — a skill
  2. press — to push
  3. bound — certain
  4. rush — hurry
  5. rush — to hurry
  6. press — newspapers
  7. safe — a strongbox
  8. chip — in a computer
  9. bound — obliged
  10. craft — a handicraft
  11. wind — moving air
  12. bound — tied together
  13. rush — a thrill
  14. chip — to eat
  15. craft — boats
  16. jam — to spread on bread
  17. jam — a tight spot
  18. jam — in traffic
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. wind — to turn a key
  21. chip — for betting
  22. wind — moving air
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. press — a publisher

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