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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: rest · hand · press · stock · fan · rash · racket · temple

  1. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  2. When was this ________________ built?
  3. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  4. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  5. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  6. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  7. Did you ________________ the button?
  8. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  9. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  10. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  11. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  12. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  13. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  14. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  15. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  16. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  17. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  18. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  19. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  20. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  21. The ________________ market has crashed.
  22. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  23. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  24. Don't do anything ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. press — newspapers
  2. temple — a place of worship
  3. stock — a soup base
  4. rest — what's left
  5. racket — a loud noise
  6. temple — side of the head
  7. press — to push
  8. fan — a supporter
  9. rest — what's left
  10. hand — help
  11. stock — goods
  12. press — a publisher
  13. hand — part of the body
  14. rest — a break
  15. rash — a series
  16. rash — on the skin
  17. temple — a place of worship
  18. fan — to cool the air
  19. hand — in cards
  20. racket — for tennis
  21. stock — shares
  22. racket — for tennis
  23. fan — a supporter
  24. rash — hasty

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