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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 116 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. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  2. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  3. When are we going to ________________?
  4. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  5. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  6. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  7. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  8. We're almost out of ________________.
  9. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  10. Where did you ________________ them?
  11. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  12. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  13. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  14. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  15. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  16. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  17. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  18. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  19. Did you ________________ the button?
  20. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  21. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  22. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  23. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  24. You don't need to ________________ round.

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

Answer key

  1. pop — music
  2. cue — a signal
  3. land — to come down
  4. ruler — for measuring
  5. pit — a fruit stone
  6. pit — a hole
  7. pound — for dogs
  8. pop — soda
  9. press — newspapers
  10. mug — to rob
  11. land — a country
  12. ruler — for measuring
  13. mug — a face
  14. pit — in a race
  15. pound — to hit hard
  16. press — a publisher
  17. cue — a hint
  18. cue — for pool
  19. press — to push
  20. pound — a weight
  21. mug — a cup
  22. land — ground
  23. ruler — a monarch
  24. pop — to visit

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