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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: press · tube · mouse · pass · mark · nail · scale · season

  1. I'll be taking the ________________.
  2. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  3. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  4. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  5. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  6. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  7. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  8. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  9. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  10. Did you ________________ the button?
  11. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  12. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  13. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  14. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  15. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  16. The ________________ went through the wall.
  17. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  18. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  19. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  20. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  21. Did you ________________ the meat?
  22. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  23. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  24. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.

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

Answer key

  1. tube — the underground
  2. nail — for a hammer
  3. season — of the year
  4. season — in sport
  5. mark — a grade
  6. mark — a trace
  7. mouse — the animal
  8. mouse — the animal
  9. scale — in music
  10. press — to push
  11. mouse — for a computer
  12. scale — size or range
  13. press — newspapers
  14. tube — in a tire
  15. scale — for weighing
  16. nail — for a hammer
  17. tube — a container
  18. nail — on a finger
  19. mark — to pay attention
  20. pass — to spend time
  21. season — to add flavour
  22. pass — to succeed
  23. pass — a permit
  24. press — a publisher

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