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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: press · plane · craft · fine · rush · date · track · bass

  1. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  2. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  3. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  4. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  5. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  6. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  7. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  8. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  9. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  10. The ________________ took off on time.
  11. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  12. Have you settled on a ________________?
  13. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  14. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  15. Did you ________________ the button?
  16. That must've been a ________________.
  17. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  18. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  19. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  20. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  21. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  22. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  23. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  24. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.

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

Answer key

  1. craft — boats
  2. press — newspapers
  3. bass — the instrument
  4. track — to keep track
  5. craft — a skill
  6. press — a publisher
  7. fine — all right
  8. date — the fruit
  9. craft — a handicraft
  10. plane — an aircraft
  11. plane — a tool
  12. date — on the calendar
  13. rush — to hurry
  14. fine — high quality
  15. press — to push
  16. rush — a thrill
  17. bass — the fish
  18. plane — in geometry
  19. bass — low music
  20. rush — hurry
  21. track — a path
  22. track — a song
  23. date — on the calendar
  24. fine — a penalty

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