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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
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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: lash · saw · press · trunk · ruler · foot · squash · fine

  1. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  2. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  3. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  4. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  5. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  6. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  7. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  8. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  9. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  10. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  11. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  12. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  13. Did you ________________ the button?
  14. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  15. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  16. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  17. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  18. She's very handy with a ________________.
  19. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  20. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  21. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  22. He works in a ________________ mill.
  23. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  24. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.

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

Answer key

  1. foot — a measure
  2. squash — the sport
  3. lash — an eyelash
  4. press — a publisher
  5. ruler — for measuring
  6. ruler — a monarch
  7. fine — all right
  8. fine — high quality
  9. lash — to lash out
  10. lash — a whip stroke
  11. squash — to crush
  12. foot — the bottom
  13. press — to push
  14. trunk — of an elephant
  15. squash — the vegetable
  16. fine — a penalty
  17. trunk — of a car
  18. saw — the tool
  19. foot — part of the body
  20. ruler — for measuring
  21. saw — past of 'see'
  22. saw — the tool
  23. trunk — of a tree
  24. press — newspapers

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