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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 · stand · mark · rock · bowl · press · cabinet · band

  1. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  2. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  3. That must've been a ________________.
  4. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  5. I can't ________________ this cold.
  6. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  7. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  8. Did you ________________ the button?
  9. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  10. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  11. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  12. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  13. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  14. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  15. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  16. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  17. What do you think of the new ________________?
  18. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  19. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  20. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  21. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  22. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  23. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  24. I don't want to ________________ the boat.

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

Answer key

  1. band — a ring
  2. cabinet — ministers
  3. rush — a thrill
  4. bowl — to roll
  5. stand — to bear
  6. mark — a grade
  7. bowl — a dish
  8. press — to push
  9. rock — a stone
  10. cabinet — a cupboard
  11. stand — for spectators
  12. rush — hurry
  13. band — a music group
  14. mark — to pay attention
  15. press — a publisher
  16. rock — music
  17. cabinet — ministers
  18. rush — to hurry
  19. mark — a trace
  20. bowl — a football final
  21. press — newspapers
  22. band — a rubber band
  23. stand — on your feet
  24. rock — to move gently

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