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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.

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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: press · track · squash · rash · drill · mate · safe · coach

  1. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  2. Have you found your soul ________________?
  3. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  4. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  5. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  6. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  7. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  8. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  9. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  10. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  11. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  12. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  13. Did you ________________ the button?
  14. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  15. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  16. Have you met the new head ________________?
  17. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  18. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  19. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  20. Don't do anything ________________.
  21. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  22. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  23. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  24. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.

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

Answer key

  1. squash — to crush
  2. mate — a partner
  3. drill — a practice
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. track — to keep track
  6. coach — a trainer
  7. rash — a series
  8. rash — on the skin
  9. track — a path
  10. drill — the tool
  11. safe — a strongbox
  12. mate — a friend
  13. press — to push
  14. squash — the sport
  15. press — a publisher
  16. coach — a trainer
  17. drill — army training
  18. press — newspapers
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. rash — hasty
  21. coach — pulled by horses
  22. track — a song
  23. squash — the vegetable
  24. mate — to breed

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