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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
468
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: toast · press · bore · bank · fan · net · stick · coach

  1. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  2. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  3. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  4. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  5. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  6. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  7. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  8. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  9. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  10. Did you ________________ the button?
  11. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  12. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  13. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  14. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  15. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  16. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  17. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  18. Have you met the new head ________________?
  19. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  20. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  21. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  22. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  23. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  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. coach — a trainer
  2. toast — a drink to someone
  3. coach — pulled by horses
  4. net — for catching
  5. fan — a supporter
  6. stick — to attach or keep to
  7. bore — gave birth
  8. press — a publisher
  9. bank — of a river
  10. press — to push
  11. bore — to drill
  12. bank — for money
  13. net — after costs
  14. stick — a piece of wood
  15. stick — a piece of wood
  16. fan — to cool the air
  17. toast — bread
  18. coach — a trainer
  19. toast — the most admired
  20. fan — a supporter
  21. bank — for money
  22. net — in sport
  23. bore — to tire
  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