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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: fan · bound · mark · snap · press · drill · wake · mate

  1. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  2. Did you ________________ the button?
  3. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  4. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  5. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  6. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  7. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  8. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  9. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  10. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  11. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  12. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  13. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  14. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  15. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  16. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  17. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  18. That was ________________ to happen.
  19. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  20. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  21. Have you found your soul ________________?
  22. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  23. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  24. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?

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

Answer key

  1. press — newspapers
  2. press — to push
  3. bound — obliged
  4. wake — to stop sleeping
  5. wake — before a funeral
  6. drill — army training
  7. mate — a friend
  8. fan — a supporter
  9. mate — to breed
  10. mark — a grade
  11. mark — to pay attention
  12. drill — a practice
  13. snap — to speak sharply
  14. snap — to snap out of it
  15. snap — to click
  16. fan — to cool the air
  17. press — a publisher
  18. bound — certain
  19. wake — a trail
  20. mark — a trace
  21. mate — a partner
  22. drill — the tool
  23. bound — tied together
  24. fan — a supporter

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