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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.

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: dip · press · charge · spring · tube · rush · mark · saw

  1. That must've been a ________________.
  2. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  3. She's very handy with a ________________.
  4. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  5. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  6. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  7. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  8. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  9. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  10. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  11. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  12. He works in a ________________ mill.
  13. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  14. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  15. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  16. I'll be taking the ________________.
  17. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  18. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  19. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  20. Did you ________________ the button?
  21. The tickets are free of ________________.
  22. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  23. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  24. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.

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

Answer key

  1. rush — a thrill
  2. saw — past of 'see'
  3. saw — the tool
  4. mark — to pay attention
  5. mark — a grade
  6. spring — of water
  7. charge — electricity
  8. dip — to dunk
  9. spring — a coil
  10. press — a publisher
  11. press — newspapers
  12. saw — the tool
  13. dip — a sauce
  14. charge — in control
  15. tube — in a tire
  16. tube — the underground
  17. rush — hurry
  18. mark — a trace
  19. rush — to hurry
  20. press — to push
  21. charge — a price
  22. spring — the season
  23. dip — to sink
  24. tube — a container

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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