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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
468
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: track · coach · ruler · jam · press · fall · cabinet · nail

  1. Did you ________________ the button?
  2. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  3. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  4. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  5. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  6. What do you think of the new ________________?
  7. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  8. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  9. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  10. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  11. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  12. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  13. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  14. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  15. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  16. Have you met the new head ________________?
  17. The ________________ went through the wall.
  18. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  19. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  20. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  21. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  22. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  23. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  24. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.

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

Answer key

  1. press — to push
  2. coach — a trainer
  3. cabinet — a cupboard
  4. jam — in traffic
  5. cabinet — ministers
  6. cabinet — ministers
  7. ruler — a monarch
  8. coach — pulled by horses
  9. track — a song
  10. press — a publisher
  11. ruler — for measuring
  12. track — to keep track
  13. track — a path
  14. ruler — for measuring
  15. jam — a tight spot
  16. coach — a trainer
  17. nail — for a hammer
  18. fall — to drop
  19. fall — the season
  20. press — newspapers
  21. nail — on a finger
  22. jam — to spread on bread
  23. nail — for a hammer
  24. fall — to drop

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