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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
468
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: bear · toast · press · tube · stand · roll · file · leaves

  1. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  2. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  3. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  4. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  5. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  6. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  7. We're on a ________________ here.
  8. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  9. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  10. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  11. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  12. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  13. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  14. I can't ________________ this cold.
  15. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  16. Did you ________________ the button?
  17. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  18. I'll be taking the ________________.
  19. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  20. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  21. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  22. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  23. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  24. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.

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

Answer key

  1. roll — a list
  2. bear — the animal
  3. file — a line of people
  4. file — a document
  5. leaves — of a tree
  6. tube — a container
  7. roll — on a roll
  8. press — a publisher
  9. toast — the most admired
  10. tube — in a tire
  11. roll — a cake
  12. bear — the animal
  13. leaves — lets stay
  14. stand — to bear
  15. bear — to put up with
  16. press — to push
  17. leaves — to go away
  18. tube — the underground
  19. stand — on your feet
  20. toast — a drink to someone
  21. file — a tool
  22. stand — for spectators
  23. toast — bread
  24. press — newspapers

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