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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. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  2. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  3. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  4. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  5. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  6. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  7. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  8. Did you ________________ the button?
  9. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  10. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  11. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  12. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  13. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  14. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  15. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  16. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  17. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  18. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  19. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  20. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  21. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  22. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  23. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  24. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.

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

Answer key

  1. press — newspapers
  2. jam — a tight spot
  3. track — a song
  4. press — a publisher
  5. track — a path
  6. track — to keep track
  7. cue — a hint
  8. press — to push
  9. chair — to sit on
  10. foot — part of the body
  11. rest — what's left
  12. chair — a professorship
  13. rule — to rule out
  14. rule — a law
  15. rest — what's left
  16. jam — in traffic
  17. foot — the bottom
  18. rule — government
  19. cue — for pool
  20. jam — to spread on bread
  21. chair — a leader
  22. foot — a measure
  23. rest — a break
  24. cue — a signal

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