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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.

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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: safe · rash · plane · charge · press · current · perch · fine

  1. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  2. The tickets are free of ________________.
  3. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  4. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  5. Did you ________________ the button?
  6. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  7. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  8. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  9. The ________________ took off on time.
  10. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  11. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  12. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  13. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  14. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  15. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  16. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  17. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  18. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  19. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  20. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  21. Don't do anything ________________.
  22. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  23. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  24. Let us try to swim against the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. press — a publisher
  2. charge — a price
  3. perch — for a bird
  4. fine — high quality
  5. press — to push
  6. press — newspapers
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. current — happening now
  9. plane — an aircraft
  10. safe — a strongbox
  11. plane — in geometry
  12. rash — a series
  13. charge — electricity
  14. perch — for a bird
  15. plane — a tool
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. perch — the fish
  18. current — electric
  19. fine — a penalty
  20. charge — in control
  21. rash — hasty
  22. rash — on the skin
  23. fine — all right
  24. current — of water

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