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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. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  2. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  3. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  4. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  5. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  6. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  7. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  8. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  9. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  10. The ________________ market has crashed.
  11. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  12. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  13. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  14. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  15. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  16. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  17. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  18. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  19. Did you ________________ the button?
  20. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  21. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  22. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  23. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  24. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.

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

Answer key

  1. face — part of the head
  2. cue — a signal
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. fan — to cool the air
  5. fan — a supporter
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. board — to get on
  8. cue — for pool
  9. press — a publisher
  10. stock — shares
  11. face — to point toward
  12. cap — a hat
  13. cap — a lid
  14. stock — goods
  15. safe — a strongbox
  16. cue — a hint
  17. face — to confront
  18. cap — of ice
  19. press — to push
  20. fan — a supporter
  21. stock — a soup base
  22. press — newspapers
  23. board — a flat piece
  24. board — a committee

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