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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.

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: bank · season · saw · stick · press · pit · game · current

  1. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  2. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  3. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  4. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  5. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  6. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  7. Did you ________________ the meat?
  8. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  9. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  10. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  11. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  12. He works in a ________________ mill.
  13. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  14. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  15. Did you ________________ the button?
  16. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  17. She's very handy with a ________________.
  18. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  19. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  20. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  21. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  22. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  23. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  24. That was a fun ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. stick — a piece of wood
  2. bank — for money
  3. current — electric
  4. pit — in a race
  5. press — a publisher
  6. season — in sport
  7. season — to add flavour
  8. game — wild animals
  9. season — of the year
  10. pit — a fruit stone
  11. bank — of a river
  12. saw — the tool
  13. current — happening now
  14. saw — past of 'see'
  15. press — to push
  16. game — a kind of play
  17. saw — the tool
  18. pit — a hole
  19. current — of water
  20. stick — to attach or keep to
  21. press — newspapers
  22. stick — a piece of wood
  23. bank — for money
  24. game — a match

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