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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
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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 · bass · arm · saw · mate · club · pitcher · cabinet

  1. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  2. He works in a ________________ mill.
  3. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  4. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  5. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  6. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  7. My father caught me by the ________________.
  8. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  9. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  10. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  11. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  12. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  13. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  14. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  15. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  16. He is an ace ________________.
  17. She's very handy with a ________________.
  18. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  19. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  20. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  21. What do you think of the new ________________?
  22. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  23. Have you found your soul ________________?
  24. Did you ________________ the button?

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — ministers
  2. saw — the tool
  3. saw — past of 'see'
  4. bass — the fish
  5. mate — a friend
  6. arm — a part of something
  7. arm — part of the body
  8. bass — low music
  9. club — for dancing
  10. bass — the instrument
  11. club — a group
  12. press — a publisher
  13. cabinet — a cupboard
  14. pitcher — a jug
  15. mate — to breed
  16. pitcher — in baseball
  17. saw — the tool
  18. club — for golf
  19. arm — part of the body
  20. press — newspapers
  21. cabinet — ministers
  22. pitcher — a jug
  23. mate — a partner
  24. press — to push

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