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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 120 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: rash · bay · press · object · mug · coach · saw · board

  1. My mare is ________________ in color.
  2. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  3. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  4. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  5. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  6. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  7. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  8. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  9. Where did you ________________ them?
  10. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  11. He works in a ________________ mill.
  12. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  13. Don't do anything ________________.
  14. Did you ________________ the button?
  15. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  16. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  17. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  18. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  19. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  20. She's very handy with a ________________.
  21. Have you met the new head ________________?
  22. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  23. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  24. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bay — a horse colour
  2. bay — a part of the sea
  3. press — newspapers
  4. object — an aim
  5. mug — a face
  6. coach — pulled by horses
  7. saw — past of 'see'
  8. rash — a series
  9. mug — to rob
  10. object — to protest
  11. saw — the tool
  12. object — a thing
  13. rash — hasty
  14. press — to push
  15. board — a flat piece
  16. mug — a cup
  17. rash — on the skin
  18. coach — a trainer
  19. press — a publisher
  20. saw — the tool
  21. coach — a trainer
  22. board — a committee
  23. board — to get on
  24. bay — to keep at bay

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