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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 hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  2. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  3. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  4. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  5. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  6. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  7. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  8. The ________________ went through the wall.
  9. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  10. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  11. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  12. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  13. This piece is in a major ________________.
  14. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  15. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  16. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  17. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  18. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  19. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  20. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  21. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  22. Did you ________________ the button?
  23. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  24. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.

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

Answer key

  1. mark — a trace
  2. net — after costs
  3. press — newspapers
  4. fine — high quality
  5. kick — in football
  6. kick — a thrill
  7. net — for catching
  8. nail — for a hammer
  9. press — a publisher
  10. fine — a penalty
  11. mark — to pay attention
  12. pitch — a sports field
  13. key — in music
  14. mark — a grade
  15. pitch — a sales talk
  16. net — in sport
  17. key — for a lock
  18. kick — with a leg
  19. nail — for a hammer
  20. key — the most important part
  21. fine — all right
  22. press — to push
  23. nail — on a finger
  24. pitch — completely

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