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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: face · cabinet · suit · bay · press · nail · toast · rule

  1. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  2. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  3. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  4. Did you ________________ the button?
  5. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  6. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  7. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  8. My mare is ________________ in color.
  9. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  10. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  11. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  12. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  13. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  14. What do you think of the new ________________?
  15. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  16. When will it ________________ you to start?
  17. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  18. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  19. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  20. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  21. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  22. The ________________ went through the wall.
  23. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  24. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. rule — government
  2. press — newspapers
  3. nail — for a hammer
  4. press — to push
  5. face — part of the head
  6. toast — a drink to someone
  7. press — a publisher
  8. bay — a horse colour
  9. suit — in cards
  10. rule — a law
  11. suit — clothes
  12. toast — the most admired
  13. face — to confront
  14. cabinet — ministers
  15. face — to point toward
  16. suit — to fit
  17. nail — on a finger
  18. cabinet — ministers
  19. toast — bread
  20. rule — to rule out
  21. bay — a part of the sea
  22. nail — for a hammer
  23. bay — to keep at bay
  24. cabinet — a cupboard

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