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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 120 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: mark · race · mate · board · press · pitcher · net · fine

  1. Only by prohibiting all nuclear weapons, we can together stop the arms ________________.
  2. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  3. He is an ace ________________.
  4. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  5. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  6. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  7. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  8. Did you ________________ the button?
  9. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  10. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  11. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  12. Winning one ________________ isn't the same as dominating a sport.
  13. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  14. Atomic bombs are a danger to the human ________________.
  15. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  16. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  17. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  18. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  19. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  20. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  21. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  22. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  23. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  24. Have you found your soul ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. race — the arms race
  2. press — newspapers
  3. pitcher — in baseball
  4. net — after costs
  5. board — a flat piece
  6. mate — to breed
  7. board — to get on
  8. press — to push
  9. fine — all right
  10. press — a publisher
  11. net — for catching
  12. race — a contest
  13. pitcher — a jug
  14. race — humankind
  15. pitcher — a jug
  16. board — a committee
  17. mate — a friend
  18. fine — a penalty
  19. net — in sport
  20. mark — a grade
  21. mark — to pay attention
  22. fine — high quality
  23. mark — a trace
  24. mate — a partner

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