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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: leaves · wake · press · ball · mug · bass · coach · bay

  1. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  2. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  3. The King held a masked ________________.
  4. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  5. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  6. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  7. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  8. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  9. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  10. Have you met the new head ________________?
  11. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  12. Where did you ________________ them?
  13. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  14. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  15. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  16. My mare is ________________ in color.
  17. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  18. Did you ________________ the button?
  19. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  20. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  21. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  22. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  23. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  24. The kitten curled into a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — to go away
  2. bass — the instrument
  3. ball — a dance
  4. coach — a trainer
  5. ball — a great time
  6. mug — a cup
  7. wake — before a funeral
  8. wake — a trail
  9. bass — the fish
  10. coach — a trainer
  11. bay — a part of the sea
  12. mug — to rob
  13. wake — to stop sleeping
  14. press — newspapers
  15. coach — pulled by horses
  16. bay — a horse colour
  17. leaves — lets stay
  18. press — to push
  19. leaves — of a tree
  20. press — a publisher
  21. mug — a face
  22. bass — low music
  23. bay — to keep at bay
  24. ball — a round shape

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