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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
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: press · key · face · pass · charge · court · band · foot

  1. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  2. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  3. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  4. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  5. Did you ________________ the button?
  6. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  7. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  8. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  9. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  10. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  11. The tickets are free of ________________.
  12. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  13. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  14. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  15. This piece is in a major ________________.
  16. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  17. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  18. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  19. The ball is in your ________________.
  20. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  21. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  22. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  23. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  24. Where can I ________________ my mobile?

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

Answer key

  1. foot — a measure
  2. band — a music group
  3. charge — in control
  4. face — to confront
  5. press — to push
  6. face — part of the head
  7. key — for a lock
  8. band — a rubber band
  9. pass — a permit
  10. foot — part of the body
  11. charge — a price
  12. foot — the bottom
  13. face — to point toward
  14. pass — to succeed
  15. key — in music
  16. band — a ring
  17. key — the most important part
  18. pass — to spend time
  19. court — for sport
  20. press — a publisher
  21. court — of law
  22. court — of a king
  23. press — newspapers
  24. charge — electricity

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