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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: pass · drill · kid · mug · lash · press · rush · land

  1. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  2. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  3. Did you ________________ the button?
  4. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  5. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  6. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  7. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  8. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  9. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  10. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  11. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  12. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  13. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  14. That must've been a ________________.
  15. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  16. When are we going to ________________?
  17. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  18. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  19. Where did you ________________ them?
  20. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  21. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  22. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  23. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  24. You can't go backstage without a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. drill — army training
  2. pass — to succeed
  3. press — to push
  4. land — ground
  5. mug — a cup
  6. press — newspapers
  7. kid — to tease
  8. land — a country
  9. drill — the tool
  10. drill — a practice
  11. pass — to spend time
  12. rush — to hurry
  13. kid — child
  14. rush — a thrill
  15. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  16. land — to come down
  17. press — a publisher
  18. rush — hurry
  19. mug — to rob
  20. lash — a whip stroke
  21. mug — a face
  22. lash — an eyelash
  23. lash — to lash out
  24. pass — a permit

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