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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: face · staff · pound · bay · press · racket · stock · fan

  1. My mare is ________________ in color.
  2. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  3. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  4. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  5. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  6. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  7. The ________________ market has crashed.
  8. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  9. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  10. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  11. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  12. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  13. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  14. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  15. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  16. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  17. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  18. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  19. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  20. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  21. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  22. Did you ________________ the button?
  23. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  24. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.

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

Answer key

  1. bay — a horse colour
  2. press — newspapers
  3. bay — to keep at bay
  4. staff — a stick
  5. fan — a supporter
  6. face — to point toward
  7. stock — shares
  8. staff — employees
  9. fan — a supporter
  10. racket — for tennis
  11. bay — a part of the sea
  12. staff — employees
  13. face — part of the head
  14. stock — goods
  15. racket — for tennis
  16. racket — a loud noise
  17. pound — to hit hard
  18. pound — for dogs
  19. press — a publisher
  20. stock — a soup base
  21. pound — a weight
  22. press — to push
  23. fan — to cool the air
  24. face — to confront

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