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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: board · dip · saw · press · cell · tube · rush · can

  1. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  2. He works in a ________________ mill.
  3. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  4. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  5. He was locked up in a ________________.
  6. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  7. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  8. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  9. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  10. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  11. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  12. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  13. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  14. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  15. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  16. I'll be taking the ________________.
  17. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  18. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  19. That must've been a ________________.
  20. She's very handy with a ________________.
  21. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  22. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  23. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  24. Did you ________________ the button?

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

Answer key

  1. dip — to sink
  2. saw — the tool
  3. tube — a container
  4. board — a flat piece
  5. cell — in a prison
  6. press — a publisher
  7. dip — to dunk
  8. tube — in a tire
  9. rush — to hurry
  10. board — to get on
  11. can — a tin
  12. cell — in biology
  13. dip — a sauce
  14. saw — past of 'see'
  15. can — a tin
  16. tube — the underground
  17. press — newspapers
  18. can — to be able to
  19. rush — a thrill
  20. saw — the tool
  21. rush — hurry
  22. cell — a phone
  23. board — a committee
  24. press — to push

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