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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
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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: game · last · fine · ball · bore · season · can · press

  1. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  2. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  3. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  4. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  5. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  6. Did you ________________ the button?
  7. That was a fun ________________.
  8. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  9. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  10. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  11. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  12. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  13. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  14. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  15. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  16. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  17. Did you ________________ the meat?
  18. The King held a masked ________________.
  19. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  20. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  21. False peace will not ________________.
  22. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  23. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  24. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. press — newspapers
  2. last — final
  3. bore — gave birth
  4. can — a tin
  5. ball — a great time
  6. press — to push
  7. game — a match
  8. press — a publisher
  9. fine — a penalty
  10. season — of the year
  11. last — finally
  12. fine — high quality
  13. bore — to tire
  14. game — wild animals
  15. fine — all right
  16. can — a tin
  17. season — to add flavour
  18. ball — a dance
  19. ball — a round shape
  20. game — a kind of play
  21. last — to go on
  22. can — to be able to
  23. bore — to drill
  24. season — in sport

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