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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. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  2. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  3. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  4. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  5. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  6. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  7. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  8. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  9. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  10. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  11. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  12. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  13. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  14. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  15. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  16. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  17. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  18. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  19. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  20. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  21. Did you ________________ the button?
  22. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  23. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  24. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.

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

Answer key

  1. march — the month
  2. press — newspapers
  3. scale — size or range
  4. cap — of ice
  5. cue — for pool
  6. kick — a thrill
  7. scale — in music
  8. track — to keep track
  9. track — a path
  10. march — music
  11. cap — a lid
  12. hand — in cards
  13. press — a publisher
  14. kick — in football
  15. cue — a hint
  16. hand — part of the body
  17. kick — with a leg
  18. scale — for weighing
  19. hand — help
  20. cap — a hat
  21. press — to push
  22. march — the month
  23. cue — a signal
  24. track — a song

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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