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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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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  2. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  3. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  4. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  5. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  6. Did you ________________ the button?
  7. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  8. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  9. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  10. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  11. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  12. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  13. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  14. Don't do anything ________________.
  15. That must've been a ________________.
  16. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  17. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  18. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  19. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  20. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  21. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  22. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  23. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  24. You shouldn't ________________ things.

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

Answer key

  1. cue — a signal
  2. face — part of the head
  3. face — to confront
  4. rest — what's left
  5. rest — what's left
  6. press — to push
  7. press — a publisher
  8. rush — hurry
  9. cue — a hint
  10. face — to point toward
  11. lie — an untruth
  12. rest — a break
  13. lie — to recline
  14. rash — hasty
  15. rush — a thrill
  16. lie — an untruth
  17. current — electric
  18. cue — for pool
  19. current — happening now
  20. press — newspapers
  21. rash — on the skin
  22. rash — a series
  23. current — of water
  24. rush — to hurry

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