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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: rash · row · field · press · dip · mate · current · calf

  1. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  2. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  3. Have you found your soul ________________?
  4. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  5. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  6. Did you ________________ the button?
  7. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  8. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  9. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  10. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  11. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  12. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  13. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  14. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  15. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  16. Don't do anything ________________.
  17. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  18. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  19. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  20. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  21. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  22. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  23. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  24. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.

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

Answer key

  1. press — newspapers
  2. calf — of the leg
  3. mate — a partner
  4. rash — a series
  5. field — a subject
  6. press — to push
  7. dip — to dunk
  8. press — a publisher
  9. row — to paddle
  10. field — for sport
  11. dip — to sink
  12. rash — on the skin
  13. dip — a sauce
  14. current — happening now
  15. mate — to breed
  16. rash — hasty
  17. field — farmland
  18. calf — a young animal
  19. current — of water
  20. current — electric
  21. row — a quarrel
  22. calf — a young animal
  23. mate — a friend
  24. row — a line

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