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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: cue · saw · mate · leaves · press · board · snap · fan

  1. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  2. Did you ________________ the button?
  3. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  4. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  5. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  6. Have you found your soul ________________?
  7. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  8. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  9. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  10. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  11. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  12. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  13. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  14. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  15. She's very handy with a ________________.
  16. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  17. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  18. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  19. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  20. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  21. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  22. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  23. He works in a ________________ mill.
  24. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.

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

Answer key

  1. press — newspapers
  2. press — to push
  3. mate — a friend
  4. leaves — of a tree
  5. board — a committee
  6. mate — a partner
  7. board — a flat piece
  8. saw — past of 'see'
  9. cue — for pool
  10. board — to get on
  11. leaves — to go away
  12. snap — to speak sharply
  13. snap — to snap out of it
  14. mate — to breed
  15. saw — the tool
  16. fan — a supporter
  17. fan — to cool the air
  18. cue — a signal
  19. snap — to click
  20. press — a publisher
  21. cue — a hint
  22. fan — a supporter
  23. saw — the tool
  24. leaves — lets stay

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