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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: fine · spell · row · trunk · rush · sharp · press · rock

  1. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  2. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  3. Did you ________________ the button?
  4. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  5. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  6. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  7. It's one o'clock ________________.
  8. How do you ________________ your surname?
  9. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  10. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  11. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  12. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  13. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  14. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  15. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  16. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  17. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  18. That must've been a ________________.
  19. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  20. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  21. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  22. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  23. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  24. I assure you, everything's ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. spell — a short time
  2. rock — a stone
  3. press — to push
  4. trunk — of a car
  5. sharp — clever
  6. trunk — of a tree
  7. sharp — exactly
  8. spell — letters
  9. row — a quarrel
  10. rock — to move gently
  11. fine — high quality
  12. rush — to hurry
  13. spell — magic
  14. sharp — with an edge
  15. row — a line
  16. press — a publisher
  17. rock — music
  18. rush — a thrill
  19. trunk — of an elephant
  20. row — to paddle
  21. rush — hurry
  22. press — newspapers
  23. fine — a penalty
  24. fine — all right

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