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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: tube · mark · net · plane · coach · press · can · ruler

  1. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  2. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  3. Did you ________________ the button?
  4. The ________________ took off on time.
  5. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  6. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  7. I'll be taking the ________________.
  8. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  9. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  10. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  11. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  12. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  13. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  14. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  15. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  16. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  17. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  18. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  19. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  20. Have you met the new head ________________?
  21. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  22. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  23. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  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. press — a publisher
  2. mark — a trace
  3. press — to push
  4. plane — an aircraft
  5. coach — pulled by horses
  6. ruler — for measuring
  7. tube — the underground
  8. net — for catching
  9. coach — a trainer
  10. can — to be able to
  11. mark — to pay attention
  12. tube — a container
  13. can — a tin
  14. net — after costs
  15. can — a tin
  16. tube — in a tire
  17. ruler — for measuring
  18. plane — a tool
  19. ruler — a monarch
  20. coach — a trainer
  21. net — in sport
  22. mark — a grade
  23. plane — in geometry
  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