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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 116 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: press · can · board · mouse · mark · wake · nail · safe

  1. Did you ________________ the button?
  2. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  3. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  4. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  5. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  6. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  7. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  8. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  9. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  10. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  11. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  12. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  13. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  14. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  15. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  16. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  17. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  18. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  19. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  20. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  21. The ________________ went through the wall.
  22. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  23. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  24. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.

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

Answer key

  1. press — to push
  2. board — a committee
  3. board — to get on
  4. mark — a trace
  5. wake — before a funeral
  6. mouse — for a computer
  7. nail — for a hammer
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. safe — a strongbox
  10. mark — a grade
  11. press — newspapers
  12. can — a tin
  13. mouse — the animal
  14. can — to be able to
  15. nail — on a finger
  16. board — a flat piece
  17. mouse — the animal
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. mark — to pay attention
  20. can — a tin
  21. nail — for a hammer
  22. press — a publisher
  23. wake — to stop sleeping
  24. wake — a trail

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