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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: leaves · game · toast · rush · calf · can · press · stock

  1. That was a fun ________________.
  2. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  3. That must've been a ________________.
  4. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  5. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  6. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  7. Did you ________________ the button?
  8. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  9. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  10. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  11. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  12. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  13. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  14. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  15. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  16. The ________________ market has crashed.
  17. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  18. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  19. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  20. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  21. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  22. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  23. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  24. ________________ you help me carry this box?

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

Answer key

  1. game — a match
  2. toast — bread
  3. rush — a thrill
  4. calf — of the leg
  5. game — wild animals
  6. leaves — lets stay
  7. press — to push
  8. calf — a young animal
  9. leaves — of a tree
  10. toast — the most admired
  11. toast — a drink to someone
  12. stock — goods
  13. press — newspapers
  14. game — a kind of play
  15. leaves — to go away
  16. stock — shares
  17. rush — hurry
  18. rush — to hurry
  19. stock — a soup base
  20. can — a tin
  21. calf — a young animal
  22. press — a publisher
  23. can — a tin
  24. can — to be able to

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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