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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: season · fine · deal · staff · bark · roll · suit · press

  1. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  2. Did you ________________ the button?
  3. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  4. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  5. We're on a ________________ here.
  6. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  7. When will it ________________ you to start?
  8. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  9. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  10. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  11. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  12. Did you ________________ the meat?
  13. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  14. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  15. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  16. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  17. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  18. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  19. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  20. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  21. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  22. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  23. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  24. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.

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

Answer key

  1. deal — a big deal
  2. press — to push
  3. press — newspapers
  4. suit — clothes
  5. roll — on a roll
  6. roll — a list
  7. suit — to fit
  8. staff — employees
  9. staff — employees
  10. season — in sport
  11. press — a publisher
  12. season — to add flavour
  13. fine — a penalty
  14. suit — in cards
  15. bark — a dog's sound
  16. bark — to shout
  17. fine — all right
  18. bark — of a tree
  19. staff — a stick
  20. roll — a cake
  21. deal — an agreement
  22. season — of the year
  23. fine — high quality
  24. deal — to handle

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