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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: file · date · pitcher · press · current · pop · fine · deal

  1. You don't need to ________________ round.
  2. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  3. Did you ________________ the button?
  4. He is an ace ________________.
  5. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  6. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  7. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  8. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  9. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  10. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  11. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  12. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  13. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  14. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  15. We're almost out of ________________.
  16. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  17. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  18. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  19. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  20. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  21. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  22. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  23. Have you settled on a ________________?
  24. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. pop — to visit
  2. fine — a penalty
  3. press — to push
  4. pitcher — in baseball
  5. deal — to handle
  6. file — a line of people
  7. pop — music
  8. press — a publisher
  9. date — on the calendar
  10. file — a document
  11. press — newspapers
  12. deal — a big deal
  13. date — the fruit
  14. fine — high quality
  15. pop — soda
  16. pitcher — a jug
  17. fine — all right
  18. current — of water
  19. deal — an agreement
  20. pitcher — a jug
  21. current — electric
  22. current — happening now
  23. date — on the calendar
  24. file — a tool

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