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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 · tube · scale · charge · saw · hide · spell · bound

  1. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  2. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  3. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  4. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  5. I'll be taking the ________________.
  6. That was ________________ to happen.
  7. She's very handy with a ________________.
  8. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  9. Did you ________________ the button?
  10. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  11. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  12. He works in a ________________ mill.
  13. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  14. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  15. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  16. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  17. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  18. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  19. How do you ________________ your surname?
  20. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  21. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  22. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  23. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  24. The tickets are free of ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. press — newspapers
  2. charge — in control
  3. tube — in a tire
  4. press — a publisher
  5. tube — the underground
  6. bound — certain
  7. saw — the tool
  8. scale — for weighing
  9. press — to push
  10. spell — a short time
  11. bound — obliged
  12. saw — the tool
  13. tube — a container
  14. spell — magic
  15. charge — electricity
  16. scale — in music
  17. hide — animal skin
  18. scale — size or range
  19. spell — letters
  20. bound — tied together
  21. hide — to keep secret
  22. hide — to keep secret
  23. saw — past of 'see'
  24. charge — a price

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