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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 120 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: charge · lash · bound · season · foot · row · board · press

  1. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  2. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  3. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  4. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  5. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  6. The tickets are free of ________________.
  7. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  8. That was ________________ to happen.
  9. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  10. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  11. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  12. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  13. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  14. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  15. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  16. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  17. Did you ________________ the meat?
  18. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  19. Did you ________________ the button?
  20. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  21. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  22. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  23. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  24. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.

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

Answer key

  1. press — newspapers
  2. board — a committee
  3. foot — part of the body
  4. row — a line
  5. bound — tied together
  6. charge — a price
  7. press — a publisher
  8. bound — certain
  9. season — in sport
  10. lash — a whip stroke
  11. charge — electricity
  12. season — of the year
  13. board — to get on
  14. charge — in control
  15. board — a flat piece
  16. foot — the bottom
  17. season — to add flavour
  18. lash — to lash out
  19. press — to push
  20. lash — an eyelash
  21. bound — obliged
  22. row — a quarrel
  23. row — to paddle
  24. foot — a measure

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