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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: press · jam · pop · staff · wound · saw · mug · charge

  1. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  2. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  3. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  4. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  5. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  6. He works in a ________________ mill.
  7. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  8. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  9. The tickets are free of ________________.
  10. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  11. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  12. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  13. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  14. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  15. She's very handy with a ________________.
  16. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  17. Where did you ________________ them?
  18. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  19. We're almost out of ________________.
  20. You don't need to ________________ round.
  21. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  22. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  23. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  24. Did you ________________ the button?

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

Answer key

  1. jam — to spread on bread
  2. wound — an injury
  3. mug — a face
  4. staff — employees
  5. saw — past of 'see'
  6. saw — the tool
  7. charge — in control
  8. staff — employees
  9. charge — a price
  10. press — a publisher
  11. pop — music
  12. wound — past of 'wind'
  13. press — newspapers
  14. jam — in traffic
  15. saw — the tool
  16. staff — a stick
  17. mug — to rob
  18. wound — an injury
  19. pop — soda
  20. pop — to visit
  21. jam — a tight spot
  22. charge — electricity
  23. mug — a cup
  24. press — to push

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