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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.

Words on the sheet
468
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: saw · mine · press · staff · rock · stand · pit · face

  1. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  2. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  3. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  4. He works in a ________________ mill.
  5. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  6. She's very handy with a ________________.
  7. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  8. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  9. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  10. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  11. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  12. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  13. I can't ________________ this cold.
  14. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  15. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  16. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  17. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  18. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  19. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  20. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  21. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  22. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  23. Did you ________________ the button?
  24. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.

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

Answer key

  1. saw — past of 'see'
  2. pit — a hole
  3. mine — for digging
  4. saw — the tool
  5. face — to point toward
  6. saw — the tool
  7. mine — an explosive
  8. press — newspapers
  9. rock — a stone
  10. pit — a fruit stone
  11. rock — to move gently
  12. pit — in a race
  13. stand — to bear
  14. staff — employees
  15. face — to confront
  16. staff — employees
  17. rock — music
  18. press — a publisher
  19. stand — on your feet
  20. stand — for spectators
  21. staff — a stick
  22. face — part of the head
  23. press — to push
  24. mine — belonging to me

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