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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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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: track · rush · press · can · present · kid · plane · rock

  1. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  2. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  3. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  4. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  5. The ________________ took off on time.
  6. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  7. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  8. That must've been a ________________.
  9. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  10. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  11. Did you ________________ the button?
  12. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  13. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  14. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  15. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  16. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  17. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  18. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  19. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  20. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  21. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  22. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  23. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  24. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.

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

Answer key

  1. rock — a stone
  2. can — a tin
  3. present — the time now
  4. present — a gift
  5. plane — an aircraft
  6. press — a publisher
  7. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  8. rush — a thrill
  9. can — to be able to
  10. rock — to move gently
  11. press — to push
  12. plane — in geometry
  13. kid — child
  14. present — there
  15. can — a tin
  16. plane — a tool
  17. track — to keep track
  18. track — a song
  19. kid — to tease
  20. rush — hurry
  21. rush — to hurry
  22. rock — music
  23. press — newspapers
  24. track — a path

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