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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: bass · can · fan · present · hide · press · court · toast

  1. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  2. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  3. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  4. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  5. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  6. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  7. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  8. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  9. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  10. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  11. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  12. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  13. Did you ________________ the button?
  14. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  15. The ball is in your ________________.
  16. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  17. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  18. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  19. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  20. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  21. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  22. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  23. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  24. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?

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

Answer key

  1. can — a tin
  2. hide — to keep secret
  3. bass — the instrument
  4. fan — to cool the air
  5. present — there
  6. can — to be able to
  7. press — newspapers
  8. court — of law
  9. fan — a supporter
  10. present — the time now
  11. present — a gift
  12. court — of a king
  13. press — to push
  14. toast — bread
  15. court — for sport
  16. hide — to keep secret
  17. bass — low music
  18. bass — the fish
  19. toast — the most admired
  20. can — a tin
  21. toast — a drink to someone
  22. press — a publisher
  23. hide — animal skin
  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