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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
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: press · root · march · roll · fine · bay · track · rash

  1. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  2. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  3. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  4. We're on a ________________ here.
  5. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  6. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  7. My mare is ________________ in color.
  8. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  9. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  10. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  11. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  12. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  13. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  14. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  15. Don't do anything ________________.
  16. Did you ________________ the button?
  17. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  18. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  19. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  20. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  21. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  22. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  23. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  24. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. roll — a cake
  2. press — newspapers
  3. fine — a penalty
  4. roll — on a roll
  5. march — music
  6. march — the month
  7. bay — a horse colour
  8. rash — on the skin
  9. march — the month
  10. root — the cause
  11. track — a song
  12. rash — a series
  13. fine — high quality
  14. bay — to keep at bay
  15. rash — hasty
  16. press — to push
  17. roll — a list
  18. track — a path
  19. fine — all right
  20. root — of a word
  21. track — to keep track
  22. root — of a plant
  23. press — a publisher
  24. bay — a part of the sea

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