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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: leaves · press · fine · staff · calf · mark · chair · ball

  1. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  2. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  3. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  4. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  5. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  6. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  7. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  8. The King held a masked ________________.
  9. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  10. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  11. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  12. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  13. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  14. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  15. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  16. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  17. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  18. Did you ________________ the button?
  19. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  20. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  21. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  22. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  23. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  24. He had ________________ pain while walking.

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

Answer key

  1. fine — a penalty
  2. fine — all right
  3. leaves — lets stay
  4. press — a publisher
  5. press — newspapers
  6. chair — a professorship
  7. leaves — to go away
  8. ball — a dance
  9. fine — high quality
  10. ball — a great time
  11. mark — to pay attention
  12. calf — a young animal
  13. mark — a grade
  14. chair — to sit on
  15. staff — a stick
  16. chair — a leader
  17. staff — employees
  18. press — to push
  19. calf — a young animal
  20. staff — employees
  21. leaves — of a tree
  22. ball — a round shape
  23. mark — a trace
  24. calf — of the leg

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