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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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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: cue · mark · toast · roll · squash · press · sharp · saw

  1. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  2. It's one o'clock ________________.
  3. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  4. Did you ________________ the button?
  5. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  6. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  7. We're on a ________________ here.
  8. He works in a ________________ mill.
  9. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  10. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  11. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  12. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  13. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  14. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  15. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  16. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  17. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  18. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  19. She's very handy with a ________________.
  20. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  21. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  22. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  23. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  24. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.

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

Answer key

  1. saw — past of 'see'
  2. sharp — exactly
  3. toast — a drink to someone
  4. press — to push
  5. squash — to crush
  6. toast — the most admired
  7. roll — on a roll
  8. saw — the tool
  9. cue — for pool
  10. toast — bread
  11. squash — the vegetable
  12. mark — a grade
  13. roll — a list
  14. cue — a hint
  15. cue — a signal
  16. press — a publisher
  17. sharp — clever
  18. mark — a trace
  19. saw — the tool
  20. mark — to pay attention
  21. squash — the sport
  22. sharp — with an edge
  23. roll — a cake
  24. press — newspapers

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