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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: can · bass · press · board · cabinet · plane · club · foot

  1. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  2. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  3. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  4. What do you think of the new ________________?
  5. Did you ________________ the button?
  6. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  7. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  8. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  9. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  10. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  11. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  12. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  13. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  14. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  15. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  16. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  17. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  18. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  19. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  20. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  21. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  22. The ________________ took off on time.
  23. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  24. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. press — a publisher
  2. board — a flat piece
  3. bass — the instrument
  4. cabinet — ministers
  5. press — to push
  6. cabinet — a cupboard
  7. foot — a measure
  8. club — a group
  9. board — a committee
  10. plane — in geometry
  11. can — a tin
  12. cabinet — ministers
  13. bass — the fish
  14. foot — part of the body
  15. board — to get on
  16. can — to be able to
  17. club — for dancing
  18. can — a tin
  19. press — newspapers
  20. foot — the bottom
  21. plane — a tool
  22. plane — an aircraft
  23. bass — low music
  24. club — for golf

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