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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
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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: perch · season · fan · rock · staff · charge · press · pop

  1. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  2. You don't need to ________________ round.
  3. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  4. Did you ________________ the button?
  5. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  6. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  7. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  8. The tickets are free of ________________.
  9. We're almost out of ________________.
  10. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  11. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  12. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  13. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  14. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  15. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  16. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  17. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  18. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  19. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  20. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  21. Did you ________________ the meat?
  22. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  23. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  24. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.

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

Answer key

  1. staff — employees
  2. pop — to visit
  3. charge — electricity
  4. press — to push
  5. fan — to cool the air
  6. perch — the fish
  7. staff — a stick
  8. charge — a price
  9. pop — soda
  10. charge — in control
  11. press — newspapers
  12. rock — a stone
  13. staff — employees
  14. press — a publisher
  15. perch — for a bird
  16. fan — a supporter
  17. season — in sport
  18. rock — to move gently
  19. perch — for a bird
  20. rock — music
  21. season — to add flavour
  22. pop — music
  23. season — of the year
  24. fan — a supporter

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