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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: ground · pass · toast · press · can · tube · temple · chest

  1. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  2. I'll be taking the ________________.
  3. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  4. The lid of the ________________ creaked open.
  5. Did you ________________ the button?
  6. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  7. There's no middle ________________.
  8. When was this ________________ built?
  9. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  10. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  11. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  12. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.
  13. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  14. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  15. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  16. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  17. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  18. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  19. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  20. I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.
  21. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  22. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  23. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  24. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.

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

Answer key

  1. toast — the most admired
  2. tube — the underground
  3. press — newspapers
  4. chest — a box
  5. press — to push
  6. ground — crushed
  7. ground — a position
  8. temple — a place of worship
  9. toast — bread
  10. pass — a permit
  11. tube — a container
  12. chest — of your body
  13. can — to be able to
  14. ground — the earth
  15. can — a tin
  16. can — a tin
  17. pass — to spend time
  18. toast — a drink to someone
  19. press — a publisher
  20. chest — of your body
  21. tube — in a tire
  22. pass — to succeed
  23. temple — a place of worship
  24. temple — side of the head

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