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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 120 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: wake · leaves · trunk · bass · fan · present · mark · press

  1. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  2. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  3. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  4. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  5. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  6. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  7. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  8. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  9. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  10. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  11. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  12. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  13. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  14. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  15. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  16. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  17. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  18. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  19. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  20. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  21. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  22. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  23. Did you ________________ the button?
  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. present — a gift
  2. fan — to cool the air
  3. trunk — of a tree
  4. present — the time now
  5. leaves — lets stay
  6. mark — a grade
  7. bass — the instrument
  8. leaves — to go away
  9. wake — to stop sleeping
  10. fan — a supporter
  11. leaves — of a tree
  12. mark — a trace
  13. trunk — of a car
  14. trunk — of an elephant
  15. wake — before a funeral
  16. mark — to pay attention
  17. bass — the fish
  18. bass — low music
  19. press — a publisher
  20. present — there
  21. fan — a supporter
  22. wake — a trail
  23. press — to push
  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