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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 116 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: trunk · saw · can · rush · press · staff · spell · stand

  1. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  2. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  3. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  4. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  5. How do you ________________ your surname?
  6. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  7. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  8. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  9. He works in a ________________ mill.
  10. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  11. Did you ________________ the button?
  12. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  13. I can't ________________ this cold.
  14. She's very handy with a ________________.
  15. That must've been a ________________.
  16. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  17. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  18. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  19. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  20. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  21. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  22. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  23. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  24. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.

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

Answer key

  1. spell — magic
  2. staff — employees
  3. trunk — of a tree
  4. can — a tin
  5. spell — letters
  6. stand — on your feet
  7. stand — for spectators
  8. saw — past of 'see'
  9. saw — the tool
  10. press — a publisher
  11. press — to push
  12. spell — a short time
  13. stand — to bear
  14. saw — the tool
  15. rush — a thrill
  16. can — to be able to
  17. rush — hurry
  18. staff — a stick
  19. trunk — of an elephant
  20. trunk — of a car
  21. rush — to hurry
  22. press — newspapers
  23. can — a tin
  24. staff — employees

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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