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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. What do you think of the new ________________?
  2. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  3. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  4. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  5. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  6. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  7. There's no middle ________________.
  8. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  9. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  10. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  11. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  12. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  13. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  14. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  15. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  16. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  17. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  18. Did you ________________ the button?
  19. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  20. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  21. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  22. That was ________________ to happen.
  23. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  24. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — ministers
  2. press — a publisher
  3. bound — tied together
  4. ground — the earth
  5. rock — a stone
  6. cue — a signal
  7. ground — a position
  8. mouse — the animal
  9. ground — crushed
  10. patient — calm and waiting
  11. mouse — for a computer
  12. patient — a sick person
  13. cabinet — ministers
  14. cue — for pool
  15. press — newspapers
  16. cue — a hint
  17. bound — obliged
  18. press — to push
  19. cabinet — a cupboard
  20. rock — to move gently
  21. patient — a sick person
  22. bound — certain
  23. rock — music
  24. mouse — the 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