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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: press · tube · racket · plane · net · season · arm · pitcher

  1. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  2. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  3. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  4. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  5. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  6. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  7. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  8. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  9. I'll be taking the ________________.
  10. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  11. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  12. My father caught me by the ________________.
  13. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  14. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  15. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  16. He is an ace ________________.
  17. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  18. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  19. Did you ________________ the meat?
  20. Did you ________________ the button?
  21. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  22. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  23. The ________________ took off on time.
  24. Spring is a pleasant ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. season — in sport
  2. press — a publisher
  3. racket — for tennis
  4. plane — a tool
  5. pitcher — a jug
  6. net — for catching
  7. plane — in geometry
  8. tube — a container
  9. tube — the underground
  10. net — in sport
  11. racket — a loud noise
  12. arm — part of the body
  13. press — newspapers
  14. net — after costs
  15. tube — in a tire
  16. pitcher — in baseball
  17. arm — part of the body
  18. pitcher — a jug
  19. season — to add flavour
  20. press — to push
  21. arm — a part of something
  22. racket — for tennis
  23. plane — an aircraft
  24. season — of the year

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