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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: fan · jam · wake · season · bowl · mine · fork · press

  1. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  2. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  3. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  4. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  5. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  6. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  7. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  8. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  9. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  10. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  11. Did you ________________ the button?
  12. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  13. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  14. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  15. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  16. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  17. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  18. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  19. Did you ________________ the meat?
  20. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  21. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  22. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  23. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  24. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.

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

Answer key

  1. fork — in a road
  2. bowl — a football final
  3. press — newspapers
  4. wake — before a funeral
  5. mine — an explosive
  6. fork — a garden tool
  7. mine — belonging to me
  8. press — a publisher
  9. jam — in traffic
  10. wake — to stop sleeping
  11. press — to push
  12. season — of the year
  13. fork — to eat with
  14. season — in sport
  15. bowl — to roll
  16. bowl — a dish
  17. jam — to spread on bread
  18. fan — to cool the air
  19. season — to add flavour
  20. fan — a supporter
  21. jam — a tight spot
  22. mine — for digging
  23. wake — a trail
  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