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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: temple · pit · press · stand · leaves · board · cabinet · toast

  1. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  2. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  3. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  4. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  5. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  6. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  7. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  8. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  9. Did you ________________ the button?
  10. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  11. When was this ________________ built?
  12. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  13. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  14. What do you think of the new ________________?
  15. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  16. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  17. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  18. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  19. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  20. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  21. I can't ________________ this cold.
  22. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  23. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  24. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.

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

Answer key

  1. toast — the most admired
  2. board — to get on
  3. press — a publisher
  4. press — newspapers
  5. toast — bread
  6. cabinet — a cupboard
  7. toast — a drink to someone
  8. stand — on your feet
  9. press — to push
  10. pit — a fruit stone
  11. temple — a place of worship
  12. board — a flat piece
  13. leaves — of a tree
  14. cabinet — ministers
  15. pit — a hole
  16. temple — a place of worship
  17. temple — side of the head
  18. leaves — lets stay
  19. cabinet — ministers
  20. leaves — to go away
  21. stand — to bear
  22. pit — in a race
  23. stand — for spectators
  24. board — a committee

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