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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
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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: can · shower · press · toast · mouse · object · rock · bay

  1. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  2. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  3. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  4. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  5. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  6. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  7. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  8. Did you ________________ the button?
  9. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  10. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  11. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  12. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  13. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  14. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  15. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  16. My mare is ________________ in color.
  17. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  18. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  19. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  20. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  21. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  22. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  23. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  24. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.

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

Answer key

  1. object — a thing
  2. can — to be able to
  3. rock — to move gently
  4. toast — a drink to someone
  5. mouse — the animal
  6. toast — the most admired
  7. mouse — the animal
  8. press — to push
  9. press — newspapers
  10. toast — bread
  11. rock — music
  12. shower — to wash
  13. bay — a part of the sea
  14. rock — a stone
  15. mouse — for a computer
  16. bay — a horse colour
  17. shower — rain
  18. can — a tin
  19. object — to protest
  20. shower — a meteor shower
  21. object — an aim
  22. bay — to keep at bay
  23. can — a tin
  24. press — a publisher

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