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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 116 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 · scale · leaves · rock · mark · pop · racket · current

  1. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  2. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  3. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  4. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  5. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  6. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  7. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  8. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  9. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  10. Did you ________________ the button?
  11. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  12. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  13. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  14. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  15. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  16. We're almost out of ________________.
  17. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  18. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  19. You don't need to ________________ round.
  20. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  21. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  22. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  23. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  24. The ________________ change colour in autumn.

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

Answer key

  1. scale — for weighing
  2. scale — in music
  3. racket — a loud noise
  4. current — electric
  5. mark — a trace
  6. scale — size or range
  7. current — happening now
  8. press — a publisher
  9. mark — to pay attention
  10. press — to push
  11. racket — for tennis
  12. rock — a stone
  13. rock — to move gently
  14. leaves — lets stay
  15. mark — a grade
  16. pop — soda
  17. leaves — to go away
  18. press — newspapers
  19. pop — to visit
  20. rock — music
  21. racket — for tennis
  22. current — of water
  23. pop — music
  24. leaves — of a tree

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