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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: rush · band · cabinet · sharp · march · last · press · court

  1. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  2. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  3. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  4. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  5. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  6. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  7. False peace will not ________________.
  8. The ball is in your ________________.
  9. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  10. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  11. What do you think of the new ________________?
  12. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  13. It's one o'clock ________________.
  14. That must've been a ________________.
  15. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  16. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  17. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  18. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  19. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  20. Did you ________________ the button?
  21. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  22. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  23. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  24. You shouldn't ________________ things.

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

Answer key

  1. march — the month
  2. press — newspapers
  3. march — the month
  4. last — finally
  5. march — music
  6. court — of a king
  7. last — to go on
  8. court — for sport
  9. sharp — with an edge
  10. rush — hurry
  11. cabinet — ministers
  12. sharp — clever
  13. sharp — exactly
  14. rush — a thrill
  15. band — a music group
  16. cabinet — a cupboard
  17. press — a publisher
  18. cabinet — ministers
  19. band — a ring
  20. press — to push
  21. court — of law
  22. band — a rubber band
  23. last — final
  24. rush — to hurry

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