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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: press · temple · tube · chip · ball · can · board · bass

  1. I'll be taking the ________________.
  2. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  3. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  4. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  5. Did you ________________ the button?
  6. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  7. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  8. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  9. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  10. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  11. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  12. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  13. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  14. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  15. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  16. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  17. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  18. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  19. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  20. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  21. The King held a masked ________________.
  22. When was this ________________ built?
  23. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  24. ________________ you help me carry this box?

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

Answer key

  1. tube — the underground
  2. board — a committee
  3. temple — side of the head
  4. press — a publisher
  5. press — to push
  6. chip — in a computer
  7. tube — in a tire
  8. chip — to eat
  9. can — a tin
  10. temple — a place of worship
  11. can — a tin
  12. board — a flat piece
  13. ball — a great time
  14. ball — a round shape
  15. press — newspapers
  16. bass — low music
  17. bass — the fish
  18. chip — for betting
  19. board — to get on
  20. bass — the instrument
  21. ball — a dance
  22. temple — a place of worship
  23. tube — a container
  24. can — to be able to

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