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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: charge · rush · press · kick · bass · current · last · nail

  1. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  2. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  3. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  4. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  5. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  6. The tickets are free of ________________.
  7. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  8. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  9. False peace will not ________________.
  10. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  11. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  12. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  13. The ________________ went through the wall.
  14. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  15. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  16. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  17. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  18. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  19. That must've been a ________________.
  20. Did you ________________ the button?
  21. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  22. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  23. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  24. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.

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

Answer key

  1. bass — low music
  2. press — newspapers
  3. current — electric
  4. bass — the fish
  5. nail — on a finger
  6. charge — a price
  7. last — finally
  8. current — of water
  9. last — to go on
  10. rush — to hurry
  11. bass — the instrument
  12. kick — a thrill
  13. nail — for a hammer
  14. press — a publisher
  15. kick — with a leg
  16. kick — in football
  17. current — happening now
  18. charge — electricity
  19. rush — a thrill
  20. press — to push
  21. rush — hurry
  22. nail — for a hammer
  23. last — final
  24. charge — in control

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