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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. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  2. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  3. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  4. Did you ________________ the button?
  5. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  6. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  7. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  8. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  9. She's very handy with a ________________.
  10. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  11. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  12. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  13. That must've been a ________________.
  14. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  15. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  16. He works in a ________________ mill.
  17. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  18. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  19. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  20. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  21. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  22. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  23. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  24. Don't do anything ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. press — newspapers
  2. rash — on the skin
  3. wound — past of 'wind'
  4. press — to push
  5. rock — a stone
  6. rush — to hurry
  7. saw — past of 'see'
  8. rock — to move gently
  9. saw — the tool
  10. cue — a hint
  11. wake — to stop sleeping
  12. rush — hurry
  13. rush — a thrill
  14. wound — an injury
  15. wound — an injury
  16. saw — the tool
  17. cue — a signal
  18. press — a publisher
  19. wake — before a funeral
  20. rock — music
  21. cue — for pool
  22. rash — a series
  23. wake — a trail
  24. rash — hasty

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