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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: leaves · rush · press · wave · toast · rest · cue · bass

  1. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  2. Did you ________________ the button?
  3. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  4. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  5. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  6. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  7. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  8. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  9. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  10. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  11. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  12. That must've been a ________________.
  13. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  14. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  15. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  16. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  17. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  18. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  19. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  20. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  21. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  22. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  23. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  24. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. wave — a sudden rise
  2. press — to push
  3. cue — a hint
  4. bass — the fish
  5. toast — a drink to someone
  6. rest — a break
  7. cue — for pool
  8. cue — a signal
  9. bass — the instrument
  10. leaves — of a tree
  11. bass — low music
  12. rush — a thrill
  13. rush — to hurry
  14. press — a publisher
  15. leaves — to go away
  16. leaves — lets stay
  17. rush — hurry
  18. rest — what's left
  19. toast — the most admired
  20. toast — bread
  21. wave — with your hand
  22. press — newspapers
  23. rest — what's left
  24. wave — of the sea

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