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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. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  2. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  3. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  4. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  5. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  6. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  7. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  8. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  9. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  10. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  11. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  12. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  13. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  14. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  15. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  16. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  17. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  18. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  19. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  20. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  21. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  22. Did you ________________ the button?
  23. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  24. He is an ace ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. track — a song
  2. calf — of the leg
  3. track — to keep track
  4. pass — to spend time
  5. pitcher — a jug
  6. foot — a measure
  7. cue — a hint
  8. press — newspapers
  9. foot — part of the body
  10. rest — what's left
  11. press — a publisher
  12. cue — a signal
  13. rest — a break
  14. foot — the bottom
  15. calf — a young animal
  16. rest — what's left
  17. calf — a young animal
  18. pass — a permit
  19. cue — for pool
  20. pitcher — a jug
  21. pass — to succeed
  22. press — to push
  23. track — a path
  24. pitcher — in baseball

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