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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 116 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: press · season · band · squash · track · ruler · bay · current

  1. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  2. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  3. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  4. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  5. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  6. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  7. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  8. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  9. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  10. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  11. My mare is ________________ in color.
  12. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  13. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  14. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  15. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  16. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  17. Did you ________________ the button?
  18. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  19. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  20. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  21. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  22. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  23. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  24. Did you ________________ the meat?

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

Answer key

  1. current — happening now
  2. band — a ring
  3. press — newspapers
  4. ruler — for measuring
  5. season — in sport
  6. squash — the sport
  7. current — of water
  8. bay — to keep at bay
  9. bay — a part of the sea
  10. track — to keep track
  11. bay — a horse colour
  12. ruler — for measuring
  13. season — of the year
  14. squash — the vegetable
  15. press — a publisher
  16. track — a song
  17. press — to push
  18. band — a rubber band
  19. track — a path
  20. band — a music group
  21. current — electric
  22. ruler — a monarch
  23. squash — to crush
  24. season — to add flavour

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