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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 · march · toast · bound · suit · press · season · foot

  1. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  2. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  3. Did you ________________ the meat?
  4. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  5. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  6. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  7. Did you ________________ the button?
  8. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  9. That was ________________ to happen.
  10. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  11. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  12. When will it ________________ you to start?
  13. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  14. That must've been a ________________.
  15. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  16. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  17. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  18. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  19. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  20. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  21. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  22. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  23. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  24. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.

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

Answer key

  1. toast — the most admired
  2. bound — tied together
  3. season — to add flavour
  4. suit — in cards
  5. march — music
  6. rush — hurry
  7. press — to push
  8. press — newspapers
  9. bound — certain
  10. foot — the bottom
  11. march — the month
  12. suit — to fit
  13. foot — part of the body
  14. rush — a thrill
  15. foot — a measure
  16. toast — a drink to someone
  17. season — of the year
  18. suit — clothes
  19. bound — obliged
  20. press — a publisher
  21. season — in sport
  22. toast — bread
  23. rush — to hurry
  24. march — the month

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