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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
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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 · spell · bear · press · board · pitcher · ruler · pass

  1. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  2. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  3. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  4. That must've been a ________________.
  5. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  6. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  7. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  8. He is an ace ________________.
  9. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  10. Did you ________________ the button?
  11. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  12. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  13. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  14. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  15. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  16. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  17. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  18. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  19. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  20. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  21. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  22. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  23. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  24. How do you ________________ your surname?

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

Answer key

  1. spell — magic
  2. ruler — a monarch
  3. ruler — for measuring
  4. rush — a thrill
  5. pass — to succeed
  6. board — a flat piece
  7. pass — a permit
  8. pitcher — in baseball
  9. bear — to put up with
  10. press — to push
  11. rush — to hurry
  12. board — a committee
  13. press — newspapers
  14. ruler — for measuring
  15. rush — hurry
  16. pass — to spend time
  17. pitcher — a jug
  18. bear — the animal
  19. spell — a short time
  20. pitcher — a jug
  21. board — to get on
  22. bear — the animal
  23. press — a publisher
  24. spell — letters

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