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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: press · leaves · safe · cue · file · band · temple · stand

  1. When was this ________________ built?
  2. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  3. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  4. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  5. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  6. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  7. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  8. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  9. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  10. I can't ________________ this cold.
  11. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  12. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  13. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  14. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  15. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  16. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  17. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  18. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  19. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  20. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  21. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  22. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  23. Did you ________________ the button?
  24. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.

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

Answer key

  1. temple — a place of worship
  2. leaves — to go away
  3. temple — a place of worship
  4. cue — a hint
  5. press — a publisher
  6. band — a ring
  7. band — a music group
  8. file — a tool
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. stand — to bear
  11. stand — on your feet
  12. safe — a strongbox
  13. stand — for spectators
  14. file — a line of people
  15. cue — for pool
  16. leaves — lets stay
  17. leaves — of a tree
  18. temple — side of the head
  19. cue — a signal
  20. press — newspapers
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. band — a rubber band
  23. press — to push
  24. file — a document

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