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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: trunk · racket · stand · date · press · game · staff · saw

  1. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  2. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  3. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  4. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  5. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  6. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  7. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  8. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  9. He works in a ________________ mill.
  10. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  11. Did you ________________ the button?
  12. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  13. I can't ________________ this cold.
  14. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  15. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  16. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  17. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  18. Have you settled on a ________________?
  19. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  20. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  21. She's very handy with a ________________.
  22. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  23. That was a fun ________________.
  24. The elephant has a huge ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. game — wild animals
  2. date — the fruit
  3. press — newspapers
  4. date — on the calendar
  5. stand — for spectators
  6. press — a publisher
  7. racket — for tennis
  8. staff — employees
  9. saw — the tool
  10. trunk — of a tree
  11. press — to push
  12. saw — past of 'see'
  13. stand — to bear
  14. game — a kind of play
  15. trunk — of a car
  16. racket — for tennis
  17. racket — a loud noise
  18. date — on the calendar
  19. staff — a stick
  20. staff — employees
  21. saw — the tool
  22. stand — on your feet
  23. game — a match
  24. trunk — of an elephant

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