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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 · band · press · wake · bulb · track · shower · mug

  1. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  2. Where did you ________________ them?
  3. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  4. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  5. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  6. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  7. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  8. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  9. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  10. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  11. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  12. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  13. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  14. Did you ________________ the button?
  15. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  16. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  17. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  18. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  19. I've got to change the light ________________.
  20. The light ________________ burned out.
  21. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  22. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  23. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  24. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.

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

Answer key

  1. press — newspapers
  2. mug — to rob
  3. toast — a drink to someone
  4. wake — a trail
  5. wake — to stop sleeping
  6. band — a rubber band
  7. track — to keep track
  8. press — a publisher
  9. track — a path
  10. toast — bread
  11. shower — a meteor shower
  12. band — a music group
  13. mug — a face
  14. press — to push
  15. mug — a cup
  16. shower — rain
  17. shower — to wash
  18. band — a ring
  19. bulb — for light
  20. bulb — for light
  21. toast — the most admired
  22. wake — before a funeral
  23. track — a song
  24. bulb — of a plant

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