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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. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  3. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  4. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  5. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  6. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  7. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  8. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  9. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  10. I can't ________________ this cold.
  11. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  12. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  13. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  14. Did you ________________ the button?
  15. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  16. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  17. That was a fun ________________.
  18. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  19. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  20. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  21. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  22. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  23. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  24. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.

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

Answer key

  1. stand — for spectators
  2. file — a document
  3. calf — of the leg
  4. cue — for pool
  5. patient — a sick person
  6. file — a tool
  7. game — wild animals
  8. shower — to wash
  9. cue — a hint
  10. stand — to bear
  11. press — newspapers
  12. file — a line of people
  13. shower — rain
  14. press — to push
  15. shower — a meteor shower
  16. calf — a young animal
  17. game — a match
  18. game — a kind of play
  19. patient — calm and waiting
  20. press — a publisher
  21. patient — a sick person
  22. stand — on your feet
  23. cue — a signal
  24. calf — a young animal

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