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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. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  3. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  4. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  5. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  6. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  7. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  8. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  9. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  10. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  11. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  12. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  13. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  14. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  15. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  16. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  17. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  18. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  19. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  20. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  21. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  22. When will it ________________ you to start?
  23. Did you ________________ the button?
  24. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.

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

Answer key

  1. press — newspapers
  2. cue — a hint
  3. leaves — to go away
  4. march — the month
  5. leaves — lets stay
  6. cue — for pool
  7. file — a line of people
  8. file — a tool
  9. prune — to trim
  10. patient — a sick person
  11. prune — the fruit
  12. patient — a sick person
  13. march — the month
  14. cue — a signal
  15. suit — clothes
  16. file — a document
  17. prune — to trim
  18. march — music
  19. press — a publisher
  20. suit — in cards
  21. leaves — of a tree
  22. suit — to fit
  23. press — to push
  24. patient — calm and waiting

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