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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 120 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. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  3. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  4. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  5. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  6. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  7. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  8. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  9. That was ________________ to happen.
  10. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  11. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  12. When are we going to ________________?
  13. Did you ________________ the button?
  14. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  15. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  16. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  17. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  18. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  19. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  20. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  21. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  22. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  23. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  24. I can't ________________ this cold.

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

Answer key

  1. stand — for spectators
  2. land — ground
  3. cue — a hint
  4. lash — a whip stroke
  5. land — a country
  6. current — electric
  7. bark — to shout
  8. current — happening now
  9. bound — certain
  10. stand — on your feet
  11. bound — tied together
  12. land — to come down
  13. press — to push
  14. bound — obliged
  15. press — newspapers
  16. press — a publisher
  17. lash — an eyelash
  18. bark — of a tree
  19. current — of water
  20. lash — to lash out
  21. cue — a signal
  22. bark — a dog's sound
  23. cue — for pool
  24. stand — to bear

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