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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
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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: staff · mark · press · season · foot · ruler · roll · toast

  1. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  2. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  3. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  4. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  5. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  6. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  7. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  8. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  9. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  10. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  11. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  12. Did you ________________ the button?
  13. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  14. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  15. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  16. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  17. We're on a ________________ here.
  18. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  19. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  20. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  21. Did you ________________ the meat?
  22. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  23. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  24. Spring is a pleasant ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. staff — employees
  2. ruler — for measuring
  3. toast — a drink to someone
  4. mark — a trace
  5. foot — a measure
  6. roll — a cake
  7. staff — a stick
  8. mark — a grade
  9. staff — employees
  10. press — a publisher
  11. toast — bread
  12. press — to push
  13. ruler — for measuring
  14. foot — part of the body
  15. season — in sport
  16. mark — to pay attention
  17. roll — on a roll
  18. press — newspapers
  19. foot — the bottom
  20. ruler — a monarch
  21. season — to add flavour
  22. toast — the most admired
  23. roll — a list
  24. season — of the year

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