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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.

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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: toast · rush · press · coach · fork · wake · foot · can

  1. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  2. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  3. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  4. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  5. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  6. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  7. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  8. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  9. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  10. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  11. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  12. Did you ________________ the button?
  13. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  14. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  15. Have you met the new head ________________?
  16. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  17. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  18. That must've been a ________________.
  19. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  20. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  21. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  22. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  23. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  24. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.

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

Answer key

  1. wake — a trail
  2. wake — before a funeral
  3. foot — part of the body
  4. press — a publisher
  5. toast — a drink to someone
  6. coach — a trainer
  7. can — to be able to
  8. fork — in a road
  9. foot — a measure
  10. press — newspapers
  11. fork — to eat with
  12. press — to push
  13. toast — the most admired
  14. toast — bread
  15. coach — a trainer
  16. coach — pulled by horses
  17. wake — to stop sleeping
  18. rush — a thrill
  19. rush — hurry
  20. foot — the bottom
  21. rush — to hurry
  22. can — a tin
  23. can — a tin
  24. fork — a garden tool

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