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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: arm · deal · leaves · march · rush · press · mark · dip

  1. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  2. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  3. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  4. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  5. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  6. That must've been a ________________.
  7. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  8. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  9. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  10. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  11. My father caught me by the ________________.
  12. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  13. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  14. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  15. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  16. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  17. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  18. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  19. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  20. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  21. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  22. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  23. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  24. Did you ________________ the button?

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

Answer key

  1. rush — to hurry
  2. dip — to sink
  3. press — newspapers
  4. march — the month
  5. march — music
  6. rush — a thrill
  7. rush — hurry
  8. deal — an agreement
  9. deal — to handle
  10. press — a publisher
  11. arm — part of the body
  12. arm — a part of something
  13. mark — a grade
  14. dip — to dunk
  15. leaves — of a tree
  16. march — the month
  17. dip — a sauce
  18. mark — to pay attention
  19. mark — a trace
  20. leaves — to go away
  21. deal — a big deal
  22. leaves — lets stay
  23. arm — part of the body
  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