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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: pit · field · press · fine · cabinet · board · rush · wind

  1. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  2. That must've been a ________________.
  3. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  4. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  5. What do you think of the new ________________?
  6. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  7. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  8. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  9. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  10. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  11. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  12. The strong ________________ blew his hat off.
  13. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  14. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  15. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  16. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  17. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  18. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  19. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  20. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  21. He sold his goods at a loss to ________________ up his business.
  22. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  23. Did you ________________ the button?
  24. It was raining hard, and to make things worse, the ________________ was beginning to rise.

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

Answer key

  1. fine — high quality
  2. rush — a thrill
  3. field — farmland
  4. board — a committee
  5. cabinet — ministers
  6. field — for sport
  7. fine — all right
  8. cabinet — ministers
  9. pit — a fruit stone
  10. rush — to hurry
  11. press — newspapers
  12. wind — moving air
  13. pit — in a race
  14. board — a flat piece
  15. pit — a hole
  16. cabinet — a cupboard
  17. field — a subject
  18. board — to get on
  19. fine — a penalty
  20. press — a publisher
  21. wind — to turn a key
  22. rush — hurry
  23. press — to push
  24. wind — moving air

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