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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.

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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: object · scale · cell · cap · sharp · press · stand · bound

  1. That was ________________ to happen.
  2. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  3. He was locked up in a ________________.
  4. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  5. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  6. Did you ________________ the button?
  7. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  8. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  9. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  10. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  11. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  12. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  13. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  14. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  15. I can't ________________ this cold.
  16. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  17. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  18. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  19. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  20. It's one o'clock ________________.
  21. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  22. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  23. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  24. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.

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

Answer key

  1. bound — certain
  2. press — newspapers
  3. cell — in a prison
  4. object — to protest
  5. cell — a phone
  6. press — to push
  7. object — a thing
  8. scale — size or range
  9. stand — on your feet
  10. cell — in biology
  11. cap — a hat
  12. bound — tied together
  13. stand — for spectators
  14. press — a publisher
  15. stand — to bear
  16. bound — obliged
  17. sharp — clever
  18. object — an aim
  19. scale — in music
  20. sharp — exactly
  21. cap — a lid
  22. cap — of ice
  23. sharp — with an edge
  24. scale — for weighing

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