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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: board · tube · toast · ball · press · arm · snap · current

  1. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  2. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  3. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  4. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  5. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  6. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  7. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  8. I'll be taking the ________________.
  9. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  10. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  11. My father caught me by the ________________.
  12. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  13. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  14. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  15. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  16. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  17. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  18. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  19. Did you ________________ the button?
  20. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  21. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  22. The King held a masked ________________.
  23. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  24. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.

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

Answer key

  1. toast — the most admired
  2. tube — a container
  3. board — a flat piece
  4. tube — in a tire
  5. ball — a round shape
  6. current — of water
  7. press — a publisher
  8. tube — the underground
  9. arm — part of the body
  10. snap — to snap out of it
  11. arm — part of the body
  12. press — newspapers
  13. toast — bread
  14. current — happening now
  15. toast — a drink to someone
  16. snap — to speak sharply
  17. snap — to click
  18. ball — a great time
  19. press — to push
  20. board — to get on
  21. board — a committee
  22. ball — a dance
  23. current — electric
  24. arm — a part of something

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