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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: lash · season · press · toast · saw · mate · fan · rest

  1. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  2. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  3. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  4. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  5. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  6. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  7. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  8. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  9. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  10. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  11. Did you ________________ the button?
  12. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  13. Did you ________________ the meat?
  14. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  15. He works in a ________________ mill.
  16. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  17. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  18. Have you found your soul ________________?
  19. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  20. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  21. She's very handy with a ________________.
  22. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  23. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  24. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.

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

Answer key

  1. press — newspapers
  2. fan — a supporter
  3. mate — to breed
  4. press — a publisher
  5. lash — to lash out
  6. season — of the year
  7. lash — a whip stroke
  8. rest — a break
  9. rest — what's left
  10. toast — a drink to someone
  11. press — to push
  12. rest — what's left
  13. season — to add flavour
  14. toast — bread
  15. saw — the tool
  16. toast — the most admired
  17. season — in sport
  18. mate — a partner
  19. saw — past of 'see'
  20. fan — to cool the air
  21. saw — the tool
  22. mate — a friend
  23. lash — an eyelash
  24. fan — a supporter

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