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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: root · tube · toast · press · nail · coach · stock · bear

  1. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  2. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  3. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  4. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  5. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  6. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  7. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  8. The ________________ market has crashed.
  9. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  10. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  11. Did you ________________ the button?
  12. The ________________ went through the wall.
  13. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  14. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  15. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  16. I'll be taking the ________________.
  17. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  18. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  19. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  20. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  21. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  22. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  23. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  24. Have you met the new head ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. press — a publisher
  2. root — of a plant
  3. nail — on a finger
  4. coach — a trainer
  5. coach — pulled by horses
  6. tube — in a tire
  7. press — newspapers
  8. stock — shares
  9. bear — the animal
  10. nail — for a hammer
  11. press — to push
  12. nail — for a hammer
  13. toast — the most admired
  14. tube — a container
  15. stock — a soup base
  16. tube — the underground
  17. root — the cause
  18. toast — a drink to someone
  19. bear — to put up with
  20. stock — goods
  21. toast — bread
  22. bear — the animal
  23. root — of a word
  24. coach — a trainer

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