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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: mark · snap · pitcher · staff · board · date · leaves · press

  1. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  2. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  3. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  4. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  5. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  6. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  7. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  8. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  9. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  10. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  11. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  12. Did you ________________ the button?
  13. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  14. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  15. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  16. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  17. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  18. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  19. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  20. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  21. Have you settled on a ________________?
  22. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  23. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  24. He is an ace ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. date — on the calendar
  2. date — the fruit
  3. board — a committee
  4. mark — a trace
  5. snap — to click
  6. snap — to snap out of it
  7. leaves — to go away
  8. pitcher — a jug
  9. mark — a grade
  10. pitcher — a jug
  11. leaves — lets stay
  12. press — to push
  13. snap — to speak sharply
  14. press — newspapers
  15. staff — employees
  16. board — to get on
  17. press — a publisher
  18. staff — employees
  19. leaves — of a tree
  20. mark — to pay attention
  21. date — on the calendar
  22. staff — a stick
  23. board — a flat piece
  24. pitcher — in baseball

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