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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. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  2. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  3. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  4. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  5. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  6. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  7. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  8. Have you settled on a ________________?
  9. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  10. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  11. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  12. Did you ________________ the button?
  13. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  14. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  15. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  16. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  17. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  18. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  19. When was this ________________ built?
  20. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  21. When will it ________________ you to start?
  22. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  23. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  24. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.

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

Answer key

  1. board — a flat piece
  2. board — a committee
  3. current — happening now
  4. current — electric
  5. temple — a place of worship
  6. cue — a signal
  7. date — on the calendar
  8. date — on the calendar
  9. cue — for pool
  10. current — of water
  11. date — the fruit
  12. press — to push
  13. press — a publisher
  14. board — to get on
  15. suit — clothes
  16. temple — side of the head
  17. stem — of a plant
  18. stem — to come from
  19. temple — a place of worship
  20. suit — in cards
  21. suit — to fit
  22. stem — a stem cell
  23. cue — a hint
  24. press — newspapers

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