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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: toast · jam · bore · fan · wave · dip · press · rush

  1. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  2. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  3. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  4. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  5. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  6. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  7. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  8. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  9. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  10. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  11. Did you ________________ the button?
  12. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  13. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  14. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  15. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  16. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  17. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  18. That must've been a ________________.
  19. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  20. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  21. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  22. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  23. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  24. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.

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

Answer key

  1. wave — of the sea
  2. fan — to cool the air
  3. toast — a drink to someone
  4. fan — a supporter
  5. wave — a sudden rise
  6. jam — a tight spot
  7. toast — the most admired
  8. rush — hurry
  9. bore — gave birth
  10. press — a publisher
  11. press — to push
  12. jam — in traffic
  13. jam — to spread on bread
  14. press — newspapers
  15. bore — to drill
  16. dip — a sauce
  17. dip — to dunk
  18. rush — a thrill
  19. dip — to sink
  20. wave — with your hand
  21. rush — to hurry
  22. bore — to tire
  23. toast — bread
  24. fan — a supporter

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