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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 116 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: fine · press · rush · hand · bear · leaves · ball · bound

  1. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  2. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  3. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  4. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  5. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  6. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  7. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  8. The King held a masked ________________.
  9. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  10. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  11. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  12. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  13. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  14. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  15. That was ________________ to happen.
  16. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  17. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  18. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  19. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  20. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  21. Did you ________________ the button?
  22. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  23. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  24. That must've been a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. ball — a great time
  2. leaves — of a tree
  3. fine — high quality
  4. bound — tied together
  5. hand — help
  6. press — a publisher
  7. hand — in cards
  8. ball — a dance
  9. press — newspapers
  10. fine — all right
  11. bear — to put up with
  12. leaves — to go away
  13. hand — part of the body
  14. rush — hurry
  15. bound — certain
  16. fine — a penalty
  17. bear — the animal
  18. rush — to hurry
  19. bound — obliged
  20. bear — the animal
  21. press — to push
  22. leaves — lets stay
  23. ball — a round shape
  24. rush — a thrill

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