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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: staff · squash · foot · spring · net · press · pass · fork

  1. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  2. Did you ________________ the button?
  3. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  4. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  5. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  6. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  7. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  8. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  9. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  10. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  11. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  12. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  13. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  14. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  15. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  16. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  17. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  18. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  19. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  20. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  21. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  22. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  23. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  24. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.

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

Answer key

  1. press — newspapers
  2. press — to push
  3. spring — the season
  4. pass — to spend time
  5. net — for catching
  6. staff — employees
  7. staff — a stick
  8. press — a publisher
  9. foot — a measure
  10. staff — employees
  11. squash — to crush
  12. foot — the bottom
  13. squash — the vegetable
  14. fork — in a road
  15. pass — a permit
  16. fork — a garden tool
  17. spring — of water
  18. pass — to succeed
  19. net — in sport
  20. net — after costs
  21. foot — part of the body
  22. squash — the sport
  23. spring — a coil
  24. fork — to eat with

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