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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: drill · press · band · patient · bulb · fan · pass · bowl

  1. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  2. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  3. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  4. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  5. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  6. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  7. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  8. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  9. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  10. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  11. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  12. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  13. I've got to change the light ________________.
  14. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  15. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  16. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  17. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  18. Did you ________________ the button?
  19. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  20. The light ________________ burned out.
  21. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  22. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  23. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  24. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — to spend time
  2. press — a publisher
  3. fan — to cool the air
  4. bowl — a football final
  5. drill — a practice
  6. drill — army training
  7. fan — a supporter
  8. fan — a supporter
  9. pass — a permit
  10. bowl — a dish
  11. band — a ring
  12. drill — the tool
  13. bulb — for light
  14. patient — a sick person
  15. band — a music group
  16. patient — a sick person
  17. press — newspapers
  18. press — to push
  19. bowl — to roll
  20. bulb — for light
  21. bulb — of a plant
  22. pass — to succeed
  23. patient — calm and waiting
  24. band — a rubber band

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