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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: lie · bound · content · toast · board · mouse · coach · press

  1. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  2. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  3. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  4. Did you ________________ the button?
  5. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  6. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  7. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  8. That was ________________ to happen.
  9. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  10. Have you met the new head ________________?
  11. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  12. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  13. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  14. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  15. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  16. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  17. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  18. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  19. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  20. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  21. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  22. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  23. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  24. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.

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

Answer key

  1. board — a committee
  2. press — newspapers
  3. mouse — the animal
  4. press — to push
  5. mouse — for a computer
  6. press — a publisher
  7. board — a flat piece
  8. bound — certain
  9. lie — an untruth
  10. coach — a trainer
  11. content — the amount
  12. toast — the most admired
  13. content — happy
  14. bound — obliged
  15. content — videos and posts
  16. mouse — the animal
  17. coach — pulled by horses
  18. toast — bread
  19. board — to get on
  20. lie — to recline
  21. lie — an untruth
  22. toast — a drink to someone
  23. bound — tied together
  24. coach — a trainer

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