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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: fine · march · track · spring · stand · perch · ruler · press

  1. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  2. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  3. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  4. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  5. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  6. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  7. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  8. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  9. I can't ________________ this cold.
  10. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  11. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  12. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  13. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  14. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  15. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  16. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  17. Did you ________________ the button?
  18. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  19. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  20. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  21. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  22. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  23. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  24. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.

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

Answer key

  1. press — newspapers
  2. march — the month
  3. perch — for a bird
  4. spring — the season
  5. track — a song
  6. spring — a coil
  7. march — music
  8. fine — a penalty
  9. stand — to bear
  10. track — a path
  11. ruler — a monarch
  12. track — to keep track
  13. press — a publisher
  14. ruler — for measuring
  15. perch — for a bird
  16. march — the month
  17. press — to push
  18. perch — the fish
  19. ruler — for measuring
  20. spring — of water
  21. stand — for spectators
  22. fine — all right
  23. stand — on your feet
  24. fine — high quality

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