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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: arm · can · degree · rush · pass · suit · press · pitcher

  1. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  2. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  3. That must've been a ________________.
  4. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  5. He is an ace ________________.
  6. Did you ________________ the button?
  7. When will it ________________ you to start?
  8. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  9. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  10. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  11. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  12. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  13. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  14. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  15. My father caught me by the ________________.
  16. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  17. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  18. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  19. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  20. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  21. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  22. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  23. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  24. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.

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

Answer key

  1. arm — a part of something
  2. degree — from a university
  3. rush — a thrill
  4. can — to be able to
  5. pitcher — in baseball
  6. press — to push
  7. suit — to fit
  8. suit — in cards
  9. degree — temperature
  10. pitcher — a jug
  11. can — a tin
  12. press — a publisher
  13. pitcher — a jug
  14. pass — to succeed
  15. arm — part of the body
  16. rush — hurry
  17. can — a tin
  18. pass — a permit
  19. press — newspapers
  20. suit — clothes
  21. arm — part of the body
  22. degree — an amount
  23. rush — to hurry
  24. pass — to spend time

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