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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: mate · foot · fine · mark · suit · mouse · fall · press

  1. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  2. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  3. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  4. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  5. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  6. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  7. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  8. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  9. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  10. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  11. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  12. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  13. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  14. When will it ________________ you to start?
  15. Have you found your soul ________________?
  16. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  17. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  18. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  19. Did you ________________ the button?
  20. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  21. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  22. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  23. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  24. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. press — a publisher
  2. fine — high quality
  3. suit — in cards
  4. fine — all right
  5. mate — to breed
  6. suit — clothes
  7. mark — a trace
  8. fine — a penalty
  9. mate — a friend
  10. fall — the season
  11. foot — a measure
  12. mouse — the animal
  13. mouse — for a computer
  14. suit — to fit
  15. mate — a partner
  16. foot — part of the body
  17. fall — to drop
  18. fall — to drop
  19. press — to push
  20. press — newspapers
  21. mark — a grade
  22. foot — the bottom
  23. mark — to pay attention
  24. mouse — the animal

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