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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: band · spell · drill · lean · press · suit · coach · bass

  1. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  2. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  3. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  4. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  5. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  6. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  7. Did you ________________ the button?
  8. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  9. Have you met the new head ________________?
  10. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  11. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  12. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  13. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  14. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  15. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  16. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  17. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  18. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  19. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  20. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  21. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  22. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  23. How do you ________________ your surname?
  24. When will it ________________ you to start?

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

Answer key

  1. band — a ring
  2. suit — in cards
  3. press — newspapers
  4. bass — the instrument
  5. band — a rubber band
  6. bass — the fish
  7. press — to push
  8. lean — to bend
  9. coach — a trainer
  10. drill — the tool
  11. coach — pulled by horses
  12. bass — low music
  13. drill — army training
  14. coach — a trainer
  15. lean — to rest against
  16. suit — clothes
  17. drill — a practice
  18. press — a publisher
  19. spell — a short time
  20. lean — thin
  21. spell — magic
  22. band — a music group
  23. spell — letters
  24. suit — to fit

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