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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: press · mug · saw · band · fork · cue · track · plane

  1. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  2. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  3. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  4. Did you ________________ the button?
  5. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  6. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  7. Where did you ________________ them?
  8. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  9. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  10. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  11. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  12. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  13. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  14. He works in a ________________ mill.
  15. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  16. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  17. The ________________ took off on time.
  18. She's very handy with a ________________.
  19. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  20. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  21. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  22. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  23. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  24. He refilled his coffee ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. fork — in a road
  2. press — newspapers
  3. saw — past of 'see'
  4. press — to push
  5. plane — in geometry
  6. press — a publisher
  7. mug — to rob
  8. plane — a tool
  9. track — to keep track
  10. mug — a face
  11. band — a rubber band
  12. band — a ring
  13. cue — for pool
  14. saw — the tool
  15. fork — to eat with
  16. band — a music group
  17. plane — an aircraft
  18. saw — the tool
  19. track — a song
  20. cue — a hint
  21. fork — a garden tool
  22. track — a path
  23. cue — a signal
  24. mug — a cup

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