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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: saw · lash · mouse · rash · press · mine · march · coach

  1. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  2. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  3. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  4. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  5. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  6. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  7. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  8. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  9. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  10. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  11. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  12. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  13. Don't do anything ________________.
  14. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  15. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  16. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  17. She's very handy with a ________________.
  18. Have you met the new head ________________?
  19. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  20. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  21. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  22. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  23. Did you ________________ the button?
  24. He works in a ________________ mill.

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

Answer key

  1. press — newspapers
  2. mine — an explosive
  3. lash — a whip stroke
  4. mouse — the animal
  5. coach — pulled by horses
  6. press — a publisher
  7. mouse — for a computer
  8. coach — a trainer
  9. mine — belonging to me
  10. rash — a series
  11. march — the month
  12. march — the month
  13. rash — hasty
  14. lash — to lash out
  15. mouse — the animal
  16. saw — past of 'see'
  17. saw — the tool
  18. coach — a trainer
  19. march — music
  20. mine — for digging
  21. lash — an eyelash
  22. rash — on the skin
  23. press — to push
  24. saw — the tool

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