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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 120 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
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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: cue · press · march · board · mark · coach · bay · calf

  1. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  2. Did you ________________ the button?
  3. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  4. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  5. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  6. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  7. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  8. Have you met the new head ________________?
  9. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  10. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  11. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  12. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  13. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  14. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  15. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  16. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  17. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  18. My mare is ________________ in color.
  19. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  20. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  21. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  22. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  23. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  24. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.

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

Answer key

  1. bay — a part of the sea
  2. press — to push
  3. mark — a grade
  4. calf — of the leg
  5. march — the month
  6. mark — a trace
  7. cue — a hint
  8. coach — a trainer
  9. press — newspapers
  10. board — to get on
  11. calf — a young animal
  12. march — the month
  13. calf — a young animal
  14. cue — a signal
  15. bay — to keep at bay
  16. coach — pulled by horses
  17. board — a flat piece
  18. bay — a horse colour
  19. coach — a trainer
  20. mark — to pay attention
  21. march — music
  22. press — a publisher
  23. board — a committee
  24. cue — for pool

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