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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 120 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.

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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: racket · patient · rock · bay · craft · present · press · temple

  1. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  2. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  3. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  4. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  5. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  6. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  7. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  8. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  9. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  10. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  11. My mare is ________________ in color.
  12. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  13. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  14. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  15. Did you ________________ the button?
  16. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  17. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  18. When was this ________________ built?
  19. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  20. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  21. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  22. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  23. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  24. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.

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

Answer key

  1. racket — for tennis
  2. bay — to keep at bay
  3. present — there
  4. temple — side of the head
  5. racket — a loud noise
  6. craft — boats
  7. patient — a sick person
  8. press — a publisher
  9. rock — music
  10. present — a gift
  11. bay — a horse colour
  12. press — newspapers
  13. patient — a sick person
  14. craft — a skill
  15. press — to push
  16. bay — a part of the sea
  17. rock — to move gently
  18. temple — a place of worship
  19. craft — a handicraft
  20. temple — a place of worship
  21. rock — a stone
  22. racket — for tennis
  23. patient — calm and waiting
  24. present — the time now

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