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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: press · sharp · stem · rush · nail · patient · jam · bowl

  1. The ________________ went through the wall.
  2. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  3. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  4. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  5. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  6. It's one o'clock ________________.
  7. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  8. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  9. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  10. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  11. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  12. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  13. Did you ________________ the button?
  14. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  15. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  16. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  17. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  18. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  19. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  20. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  21. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  22. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  23. That must've been a ________________.
  24. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.

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

Answer key

  1. nail — for a hammer
  2. patient — a sick person
  3. press — a publisher
  4. bowl — a football final
  5. sharp — with an edge
  6. sharp — exactly
  7. press — newspapers
  8. stem — a stem cell
  9. nail — on a finger
  10. rush — hurry
  11. sharp — clever
  12. bowl — a dish
  13. press — to push
  14. patient — calm and waiting
  15. stem — to come from
  16. stem — of a plant
  17. jam — in traffic
  18. jam — to spread on bread
  19. rush — to hurry
  20. jam — a tight spot
  21. bowl — to roll
  22. patient — a sick person
  23. rush — a thrill
  24. nail — for a hammer

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