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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 120 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 newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  2. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  3. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  4. She's very handy with a ________________.
  5. My mare is ________________ in color.
  6. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  7. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  8. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  9. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  10. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  11. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  12. He is an ace ________________.
  13. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  14. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  15. Did you ________________ the button?
  16. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  17. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  18. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  19. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  20. He works in a ________________ mill.
  21. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  22. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  23. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  24. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. foot — the bottom
  2. scale — for weighing
  3. press — newspapers
  4. saw — the tool
  5. bay — a horse colour
  6. pitcher — a jug
  7. cue — for pool
  8. track — a path
  9. pitcher — a jug
  10. track — a song
  11. bay — to keep at bay
  12. pitcher — in baseball
  13. scale — size or range
  14. track — to keep track
  15. press — to push
  16. press — a publisher
  17. foot — a measure
  18. saw — past of 'see'
  19. foot — part of the body
  20. saw — the tool
  21. cue — a hint
  22. cue — a signal
  23. scale — in music
  24. bay — a part of the sea

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