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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: toast · branch · coach · suit · mark · squash · press · rock

  1. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  2. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  3. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  4. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  5. Have you met the new head ________________?
  6. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  7. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  8. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  9. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  10. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  11. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  12. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  13. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  14. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  15. When will it ________________ you to start?
  16. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  17. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  18. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  19. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  20. Did you ________________ the button?
  21. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  22. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  23. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  24. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?

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

Answer key

  1. rock — a stone
  2. toast — the most admired
  3. rock — to move gently
  4. coach — pulled by horses
  5. coach — a trainer
  6. press — a publisher
  7. squash — to crush
  8. branch — a division
  9. mark — a trace
  10. coach — a trainer
  11. squash — the sport
  12. branch — of a bank
  13. squash — the vegetable
  14. branch — of a tree
  15. suit — to fit
  16. mark — a grade
  17. toast — bread
  18. press — newspapers
  19. suit — clothes
  20. press — to push
  21. toast — a drink to someone
  22. suit — in cards
  23. mark — to pay attention
  24. rock — music

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