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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. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  2. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  3. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  4. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  5. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  6. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  7. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  8. Did you ________________ the button?
  9. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  10. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  11. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  12. This piece is in a major ________________.
  13. Have you settled on a ________________?
  14. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  15. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  16. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  17. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  18. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  19. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  20. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  21. The ________________ market has crashed.
  22. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  23. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  24. Hard work is the ________________ to success.

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — for a computer
  2. mouse — the animal
  3. march — music
  4. march — the month
  5. march — the month
  6. cue — a signal
  7. press — newspapers
  8. press — to push
  9. date — on the calendar
  10. cue — a hint
  11. date — the fruit
  12. key — in music
  13. date — on the calendar
  14. board — to get on
  15. key — for a lock
  16. board — a committee
  17. stock — a soup base
  18. cue — for pool
  19. press — a publisher
  20. board — a flat piece
  21. stock — shares
  22. stock — goods
  23. mouse — the animal
  24. key — the most important part

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