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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 · rock · suit · rush · bore · coach · spring · jam

  1. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  2. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  3. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  4. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  5. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  6. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  7. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  8. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  9. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  10. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  11. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  12. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  13. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  14. Have you met the new head ________________?
  15. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  16. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  17. When will it ________________ you to start?
  18. That must've been a ________________.
  19. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  20. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  21. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  22. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  23. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  24. Did you ________________ the button?

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

Answer key

  1. bore — gave birth
  2. bore — to tire
  3. suit — clothes
  4. rush — to hurry
  5. spring — a coil
  6. press — a publisher
  7. jam — in traffic
  8. spring — the season
  9. press — newspapers
  10. jam — to spread on bread
  11. bore — to drill
  12. coach — pulled by horses
  13. rock — a stone
  14. coach — a trainer
  15. coach — a trainer
  16. rock — music
  17. suit — to fit
  18. rush — a thrill
  19. spring — of water
  20. rush — hurry
  21. jam — a tight spot
  22. suit — in cards
  23. rock — to move gently
  24. press — to push

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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