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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: present · pitcher · sharp · press · tube · pop · fork · charge

  1. You don't need to ________________ round.
  2. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  3. Did you ________________ the button?
  4. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  5. We're almost out of ________________.
  6. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  7. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  8. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  9. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  10. The tickets are free of ________________.
  11. I'll be taking the ________________.
  12. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  13. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  14. He is an ace ________________.
  15. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  16. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  17. It's one o'clock ________________.
  18. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  19. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  20. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  21. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  22. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  23. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  24. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.

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

Answer key

  1. pop — to visit
  2. press — newspapers
  3. press — to push
  4. charge — electricity
  5. pop — soda
  6. sharp — with an edge
  7. sharp — clever
  8. pop — music
  9. fork — in a road
  10. charge — a price
  11. tube — the underground
  12. pitcher — a jug
  13. fork — a garden tool
  14. pitcher — in baseball
  15. pitcher — a jug
  16. tube — in a tire
  17. sharp — exactly
  18. fork — to eat with
  19. charge — in control
  20. tube — a container
  21. press — a publisher
  22. present — a gift
  23. present — there
  24. present — the time now

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