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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: board · bear · drill · ball · squash · track · mouse · press

  1. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  2. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  3. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  4. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  5. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  6. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  7. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  8. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  9. Did you ________________ the button?
  10. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  11. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  12. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  13. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  14. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  15. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  16. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  17. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  18. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  19. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  20. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  21. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  22. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  23. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  24. The King held a masked ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — the animal
  2. press — a publisher
  3. squash — the vegetable
  4. ball — a great time
  5. drill — army training
  6. press — newspapers
  7. mouse — the animal
  8. mouse — for a computer
  9. press — to push
  10. board — a committee
  11. track — to keep track
  12. track — a path
  13. squash — to crush
  14. drill — a practice
  15. squash — the sport
  16. board — to get on
  17. bear — to put up with
  18. bear — the animal
  19. drill — the tool
  20. board — a flat piece
  21. ball — a round shape
  22. track — a song
  23. bear — the animal
  24. ball — a dance

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