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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: toast · mug · stock · track · object · fan · press · mate

  1. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  2. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  3. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  4. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  5. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  6. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  7. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  8. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  9. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  10. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  11. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  12. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  13. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  14. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  15. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  16. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  17. Did you ________________ the button?
  18. The ________________ market has crashed.
  19. Have you found your soul ________________?
  20. Where did you ________________ them?
  21. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  22. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  23. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  24. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.

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

Answer key

  1. press — newspapers
  2. object — to protest
  3. track — a path
  4. stock — goods
  5. track — to keep track
  6. press — a publisher
  7. object — a thing
  8. mug — a cup
  9. toast — a drink to someone
  10. fan — to cool the air
  11. toast — the most admired
  12. stock — a soup base
  13. mate — a friend
  14. toast — bread
  15. fan — a supporter
  16. object — an aim
  17. press — to push
  18. stock — shares
  19. mate — a partner
  20. mug — to rob
  21. mug — a face
  22. fan — a supporter
  23. track — a song
  24. mate — to breed

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