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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 120 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: mug · can · land · bound · press · mark · pass · rock

  1. When are we going to ________________?
  2. That was ________________ to happen.
  3. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  4. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  5. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  6. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  7. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  8. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  9. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  10. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  11. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  12. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  13. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  14. Where did you ________________ them?
  15. Did you ________________ the button?
  16. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  17. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  18. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  19. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  20. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  21. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  22. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  23. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  24. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?

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

Answer key

  1. land — to come down
  2. bound — certain
  3. can — to be able to
  4. bound — obliged
  5. mark — a trace
  6. rock — to move gently
  7. pass — to succeed
  8. rock — a stone
  9. mug — a cup
  10. can — a tin
  11. mark — a grade
  12. land — ground
  13. press — a publisher
  14. mug — to rob
  15. press — to push
  16. mug — a face
  17. press — newspapers
  18. mark — to pay attention
  19. can — a tin
  20. pass — a permit
  21. land — a country
  22. bound — tied together
  23. pass — to spend time
  24. rock — music

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