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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: wake · bass · toast · press · leaves · ball · last · mouse

  1. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  2. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  3. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  4. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  5. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  6. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  7. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  8. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  9. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  10. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  11. Did you ________________ the button?
  12. False peace will not ________________.
  13. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  14. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  15. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  16. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  17. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  18. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  19. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  20. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  21. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  22. The King held a masked ________________.
  23. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  24. Should I buy a wireless ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. press — newspapers
  2. ball — a round shape
  3. toast — the most admired
  4. mouse — the animal
  5. bass — the instrument
  6. wake — before a funeral
  7. toast — a drink to someone
  8. wake — a trail
  9. wake — to stop sleeping
  10. ball — a great time
  11. press — to push
  12. last — to go on
  13. leaves — of a tree
  14. last — finally
  15. bass — low music
  16. mouse — the animal
  17. press — a publisher
  18. toast — bread
  19. leaves — to go away
  20. bass — the fish
  21. leaves — lets stay
  22. ball — a dance
  23. last — final
  24. mouse — for a computer

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