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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. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  2. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  3. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  4. Have you met the new head ________________?
  5. Did you ________________ the button?
  6. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  7. Did you ________________ the meat?
  8. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  9. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  10. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  11. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  12. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  13. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  14. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  15. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  16. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  17. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  18. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  19. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  20. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  21. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  22. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  23. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  24. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.

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

Answer key

  1. coach — a trainer
  2. season — of the year
  3. cue — a hint
  4. coach — a trainer
  5. press — to push
  6. cue — a signal
  7. season — to add flavour
  8. net — after costs
  9. patient — a sick person
  10. press — a publisher
  11. bear — the animal
  12. season — in sport
  13. patient — a sick person
  14. bowl — a football final
  15. net — for catching
  16. press — newspapers
  17. bear — the animal
  18. net — in sport
  19. coach — pulled by horses
  20. cue — for pool
  21. bowl — a dish
  22. bowl — to roll
  23. bear — to put up with
  24. patient — calm and waiting

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