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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: squash · leaves · patient · press · toast · ruler · rock · face

  1. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  2. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  3. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  4. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  5. Did you ________________ the button?
  6. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  7. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  8. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  9. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  10. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  11. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  12. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  13. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  14. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  15. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  16. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  17. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  18. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  19. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  20. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  21. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  22. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  23. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  24. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.

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

Answer key

  1. face — to point toward
  2. press — newspapers
  3. squash — the vegetable
  4. toast — a drink to someone
  5. press — to push
  6. squash — to crush
  7. face — to confront
  8. rock — a stone
  9. rock — music
  10. leaves — to go away
  11. ruler — for measuring
  12. leaves — of a tree
  13. ruler — for measuring
  14. toast — the most admired
  15. rock — to move gently
  16. patient — calm and waiting
  17. toast — bread
  18. squash — the sport
  19. patient — a sick person
  20. face — part of the head
  21. patient — a sick person
  22. leaves — lets stay
  23. ruler — a monarch
  24. press — a publisher

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