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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: fine · row · stand · mine · mark · saw · mug · press

  1. He works in a ________________ mill.
  2. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  3. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  4. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  5. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  6. She's very handy with a ________________.
  7. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  8. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  9. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  10. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  11. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  12. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  13. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  14. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  15. Did you ________________ the button?
  16. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  17. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  18. Where did you ________________ them?
  19. I can't ________________ this cold.
  20. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  21. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  22. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  23. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  24. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.

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

Answer key

  1. saw — the tool
  2. row — a line
  3. fine — a penalty
  4. row — to paddle
  5. press — newspapers
  6. saw — the tool
  7. stand — for spectators
  8. mark — to pay attention
  9. mine — belonging to me
  10. row — a quarrel
  11. stand — on your feet
  12. press — a publisher
  13. mug — a cup
  14. fine — all right
  15. press — to push
  16. mine — for digging
  17. mine — an explosive
  18. mug — to rob
  19. stand — to bear
  20. mark — a grade
  21. mug — a face
  22. mark — a trace
  23. fine — high quality
  24. saw — past of 'see'

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