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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. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  2. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  3. What do you think of the new ________________?
  4. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  5. Have you settled on a ________________?
  6. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  7. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  8. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  9. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  10. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  11. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  12. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  13. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  14. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  15. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  16. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  17. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  18. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  19. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  20. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  21. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  22. Did you ________________ the button?
  23. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  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. mine — belonging to me
  2. press — newspapers
  3. cabinet — ministers
  4. lie — to recline
  5. date — on the calendar
  6. mine — for digging
  7. date — on the calendar
  8. lie — an untruth
  9. cue — a hint
  10. rock — to move gently
  11. rock — a stone
  12. wound — an injury
  13. lie — an untruth
  14. mine — an explosive
  15. cabinet — a cupboard
  16. wound — past of 'wind'
  17. cue — a signal
  18. cabinet — ministers
  19. date — the fruit
  20. cue — for pool
  21. rock — music
  22. press — to push
  23. wound — an injury
  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