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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. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  2. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  3. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  4. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  5. Did you ________________ the button?
  6. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  7. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  8. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  9. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  10. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  11. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  12. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  13. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  14. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  15. That was ________________ to happen.
  16. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  17. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  18. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  19. How do you ________________ your surname?
  20. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  21. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  22. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  23. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  24. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.

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

Answer key

  1. deal — an agreement
  2. press — newspapers
  3. cue — a hint
  4. bound — tied together
  5. press — to push
  6. cue — a signal
  7. trunk — of an elephant
  8. field — a subject
  9. bound — obliged
  10. field — for sport
  11. trunk — of a tree
  12. wave — of the sea
  13. deal — to handle
  14. press — a publisher
  15. bound — certain
  16. wave — with your hand
  17. spell — magic
  18. wave — a sudden rise
  19. spell — letters
  20. field — farmland
  21. spell — a short time
  22. cue — for pool
  23. trunk — of a car
  24. deal — a big deal

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