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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: scale · press · tube · date · pop · fine · wave · current

  1. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  2. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  3. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  4. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  5. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  6. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  7. We're almost out of ________________.
  8. Did you ________________ the button?
  9. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  10. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  11. You don't need to ________________ round.
  12. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  13. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  14. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  15. I'll be taking the ________________.
  16. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  17. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  18. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  19. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  20. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  21. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  22. Have you settled on a ________________?
  23. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  24. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.

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

Answer key

  1. fine — a penalty
  2. press — a publisher
  3. pop — music
  4. scale — size or range
  5. fine — high quality
  6. scale — in music
  7. pop — soda
  8. press — to push
  9. current — of water
  10. wave — of the sea
  11. pop — to visit
  12. wave — with your hand
  13. current — electric
  14. date — the fruit
  15. tube — the underground
  16. press — newspapers
  17. date — on the calendar
  18. tube — a container
  19. fine — all right
  20. scale — for weighing
  21. current — happening now
  22. date — on the calendar
  23. wave — a sudden rise
  24. tube — in a tire

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