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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. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  2. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  3. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  4. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  5. Did you ________________ the meat?
  6. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  7. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  8. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  9. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  10. I can't ________________ this cold.
  11. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  12. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  13. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  14. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  15. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  16. You don't need to ________________ round.
  17. We're almost out of ________________.
  18. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  19. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  20. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  21. Did you ________________ the button?
  22. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  23. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  24. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.

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

Answer key

  1. cue — a signal
  2. season — of the year
  3. cue — a hint
  4. fine — high quality
  5. season — to add flavour
  6. cue — for pool
  7. press — newspapers
  8. stand — for spectators
  9. fine — all right
  10. stand — to bear
  11. pop — music
  12. vault — an arched ceiling
  13. net — in sport
  14. vault — in gymnastics
  15. press — a publisher
  16. pop — to visit
  17. pop — soda
  18. season — in sport
  19. net — after costs
  20. fine — a penalty
  21. press — to push
  22. vault — a safe
  23. net — for catching
  24. stand — on your feet

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