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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 116 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. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  2. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  3. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  4. Did you ________________ the button?
  5. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  6. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  7. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  8. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  9. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  10. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  11. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  12. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  13. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  14. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  15. I can't ________________ this cold.
  16. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  17. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  18. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  19. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  20. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  21. He is an ace ________________.
  22. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  23. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  24. Fill up this ________________ with water.

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

Answer key

  1. stand — for spectators
  2. press — newspapers
  3. row — to paddle
  4. press — to push
  5. fine — all right
  6. spring — the season
  7. press — a publisher
  8. drill — army training
  9. cue — a signal
  10. spring — of water
  11. drill — a practice
  12. cue — a hint
  13. fine — high quality
  14. row — a quarrel
  15. stand — to bear
  16. spring — a coil
  17. fine — a penalty
  18. pitcher — a jug
  19. stand — on your feet
  20. cue — for pool
  21. pitcher — in baseball
  22. row — a line
  23. drill — the tool
  24. pitcher — a jug

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