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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: board · foot · coach · press · season · rock · ball · dip

  1. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  2. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  3. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  4. Did you ________________ the button?
  5. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  6. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  7. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  8. Did you ________________ the meat?
  9. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  10. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  11. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  12. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  13. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  14. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  15. Have you met the new head ________________?
  16. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  17. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  18. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  19. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  20. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  21. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  22. The King held a masked ________________.
  23. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  24. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.

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

Answer key

  1. foot — the bottom
  2. board — to get on
  3. press — newspapers
  4. press — to push
  5. dip — to dunk
  6. foot — part of the body
  7. board — a committee
  8. season — to add flavour
  9. board — a flat piece
  10. ball — a round shape
  11. dip — to sink
  12. rock — to move gently
  13. rock — a stone
  14. coach — pulled by horses
  15. coach — a trainer
  16. season — of the year
  17. coach — a trainer
  18. foot — a measure
  19. press — a publisher
  20. rock — music
  21. ball — a great time
  22. ball — a dance
  23. season — in sport
  24. dip — a sauce

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