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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. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  2. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  3. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  4. Did you ________________ the button?
  5. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  6. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  7. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  8. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  9. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  10. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  11. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  12. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  13. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  14. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  15. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  16. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  17. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  18. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  19. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  20. That was ________________ to happen.
  21. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  22. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  23. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  24. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.

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

Answer key

  1. bound — tied together
  2. cue — for pool
  3. ruler — for measuring
  4. press — to push
  5. stick — to attach or keep to
  6. press — a publisher
  7. ruler — a monarch
  8. stick — a piece of wood
  9. ruler — for measuring
  10. kid — child
  11. bowl — to roll
  12. cue — a hint
  13. track — a path
  14. bowl — a football final
  15. bowl — a dish
  16. cue — a signal
  17. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  18. bound — obliged
  19. stick — a piece of wood
  20. bound — certain
  21. track — to keep track
  22. kid — to tease
  23. press — newspapers
  24. track — a song

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