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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: saw · press · bear · toast · mug · hide · net · mate

  1. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  2. He works in a ________________ mill.
  3. Have you found your soul ________________?
  4. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  5. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  6. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  7. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  8. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  9. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  10. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  11. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  12. She's very handy with a ________________.
  13. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  14. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  15. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  16. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  17. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  18. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  19. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  20. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  21. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  22. Where did you ________________ them?
  23. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  24. Did you ________________ the button?

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

Answer key

  1. net — for catching
  2. saw — the tool
  3. mate — a partner
  4. bear — to put up with
  5. toast — bread
  6. saw — past of 'see'
  7. mug — a face
  8. mate — to breed
  9. mate — a friend
  10. press — newspapers
  11. bear — the animal
  12. saw — the tool
  13. press — a publisher
  14. hide — to keep secret
  15. net — after costs
  16. hide — to keep secret
  17. toast — a drink to someone
  18. net — in sport
  19. hide — animal skin
  20. bear — the animal
  21. mug — a cup
  22. mug — to rob
  23. toast — the most admired
  24. press — to push

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