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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: season · net · jam · bass · toast · press · rest · bowl

  1. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  2. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  3. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  4. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  5. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  6. Did you ________________ the meat?
  7. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  8. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  9. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  10. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  11. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  12. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  13. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  14. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  15. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  16. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  17. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  18. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  19. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  20. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  21. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  22. Did you ________________ the button?
  23. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  24. He took the fish out of the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. season — in sport
  2. toast — bread
  3. bowl — a dish
  4. net — after costs
  5. bass — the fish
  6. season — to add flavour
  7. toast — a drink to someone
  8. jam — in traffic
  9. bowl — a football final
  10. bass — the instrument
  11. toast — the most admired
  12. press — a publisher
  13. press — newspapers
  14. rest — what's left
  15. jam — a tight spot
  16. bass — low music
  17. rest — a break
  18. net — in sport
  19. bowl — to roll
  20. jam — to spread on bread
  21. season — of the year
  22. press — to push
  23. rest — what's left
  24. net — for catching

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