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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. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  2. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  3. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  4. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  5. I've got to change the light ________________.
  6. That was a fun ________________.
  7. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  8. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  9. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  10. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  11. The light ________________ burned out.
  12. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  13. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  14. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  15. Did you ________________ the button?
  16. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  17. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  18. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  19. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  20. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  21. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  22. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  23. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  24. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.

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

Answer key

  1. hide — to keep secret
  2. bark — to shout
  3. bank — for money
  4. rock — a stone
  5. bulb — for light
  6. game — a match
  7. bark — a dog's sound
  8. rock — to move gently
  9. bank — for money
  10. bark — of a tree
  11. bulb — for light
  12. cue — a signal
  13. game — wild animals
  14. press — a publisher
  15. press — to push
  16. hide — to keep secret
  17. press — newspapers
  18. cue — a hint
  19. hide — animal skin
  20. game — a kind of play
  21. bank — of a river
  22. rock — music
  23. bulb — of a plant
  24. cue — for pool

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