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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.

Make a worksheet

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: rock · mark · fine · mine · press · toast · fan · rest

  1. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  2. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  3. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  4. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  5. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  6. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  7. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  8. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  9. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  10. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  11. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  12. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  13. Did you ________________ the button?
  14. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  15. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  16. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  17. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  18. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  19. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  20. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  21. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  22. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  23. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  24. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.

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

Answer key

  1. mine — belonging to me
  2. fine — high quality
  3. fan — a supporter
  4. mine — for digging
  5. toast — a drink to someone
  6. mark — a grade
  7. mark — a trace
  8. rock — a stone
  9. fan — to cool the air
  10. press — a publisher
  11. fine — a penalty
  12. fine — all right
  13. press — to push
  14. press — newspapers
  15. rock — to move gently
  16. rest — a break
  17. rock — music
  18. mark — to pay attention
  19. rest — what's left
  20. mine — an explosive
  21. fan — a supporter
  22. toast — bread
  23. rest — what's left
  24. toast — the most admired

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