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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: snap · press · craft · mug · leaves · fine · tube · roll

  1. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  2. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  3. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  4. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  5. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  6. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  7. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  8. We're on a ________________ here.
  9. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  10. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  11. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  12. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  13. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  14. Did you ________________ the button?
  15. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  16. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  17. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  18. I'll be taking the ________________.
  19. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  20. Where did you ________________ them?
  21. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  22. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  23. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  24. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.

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

Answer key

  1. fine — a penalty
  2. roll — a list
  3. fine — all right
  4. fine — high quality
  5. snap — to speak sharply
  6. leaves — lets stay
  7. tube — a container
  8. roll — on a roll
  9. mug — a cup
  10. press — a publisher
  11. craft — a skill
  12. craft — boats
  13. roll — a cake
  14. press — to push
  15. craft — a handicraft
  16. press — newspapers
  17. leaves — of a tree
  18. tube — the underground
  19. leaves — to go away
  20. mug — to rob
  21. snap — to click
  22. tube — in a tire
  23. snap — to snap out of it
  24. mug — a face

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