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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 120 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: track · plane · press · fine · hide · leaves · mine · rash

  1. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  2. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  3. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  4. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  5. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  6. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  7. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  8. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  9. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  10. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  11. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  12. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  13. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  14. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  15. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  16. Don't do anything ________________.
  17. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  18. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  19. The ________________ took off on time.
  20. Did you ________________ the button?
  21. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  22. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  23. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  24. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.

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

Answer key

  1. rash — on the skin
  2. leaves — lets stay
  3. press — newspapers
  4. press — a publisher
  5. leaves — of a tree
  6. leaves — to go away
  7. fine — a penalty
  8. fine — all right
  9. hide — to keep secret
  10. mine — an explosive
  11. hide — to keep secret
  12. hide — animal skin
  13. track — a song
  14. track — to keep track
  15. plane — in geometry
  16. rash — hasty
  17. mine — belonging to me
  18. fine — high quality
  19. plane — an aircraft
  20. press — to push
  21. rash — a series
  22. mine — for digging
  23. track — a path
  24. plane — a tool

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