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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
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: bear · sharp · track · saw · press · bass · coach · lash

  1. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  2. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  3. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  4. It's one o'clock ________________.
  5. She's very handy with a ________________.
  6. He works in a ________________ mill.
  7. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  8. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  9. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  10. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  11. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  12. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  13. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  14. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  15. Did you ________________ the button?
  16. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  17. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  18. Have you met the new head ________________?
  19. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  20. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  21. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  22. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  23. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  24. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.

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

Answer key

  1. press — newspapers
  2. track — a song
  3. coach — pulled by horses
  4. sharp — exactly
  5. saw — the tool
  6. saw — the tool
  7. coach — a trainer
  8. lash — to lash out
  9. press — a publisher
  10. lash — an eyelash
  11. bear — the animal
  12. sharp — clever
  13. bass — low music
  14. bass — the fish
  15. press — to push
  16. lash — a whip stroke
  17. bear — the animal
  18. coach — a trainer
  19. sharp — with an edge
  20. bass — the instrument
  21. bear — to put up with
  22. track — to keep track
  23. saw — past of 'see'
  24. track — a path

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