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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: roll · trunk · press · mine · date · coach · rock · leaves

  1. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  2. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  3. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  4. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  5. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  6. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  7. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  8. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  9. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  10. Did you ________________ the button?
  11. Have you settled on a ________________?
  12. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  13. We're on a ________________ here.
  14. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  15. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  16. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  17. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  18. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  19. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  20. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  21. Have you met the new head ________________?
  22. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  23. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  24. She's sitting on a gold ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. roll — a list
  2. mine — belonging to me
  3. rock — a stone
  4. leaves — of a tree
  5. press — newspapers
  6. press — a publisher
  7. date — the fruit
  8. trunk — of a car
  9. mine — an explosive
  10. press — to push
  11. date — on the calendar
  12. roll — a cake
  13. roll — on a roll
  14. trunk — of an elephant
  15. coach — pulled by horses
  16. leaves — lets stay
  17. trunk — of a tree
  18. date — on the calendar
  19. rock — to move gently
  20. coach — a trainer
  21. coach — a trainer
  22. rock — music
  23. leaves — to go away
  24. mine — for digging

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