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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. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  2. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  3. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  4. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  5. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  6. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  7. My father caught me by the ________________.
  8. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  9. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  10. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  11. Did you ________________ the button?
  12. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  13. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  14. We're on a ________________ here.
  15. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  16. He is an ace ________________.
  17. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  18. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  19. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  20. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  21. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  22. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  23. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  24. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — to go away
  2. arm — part of the body
  3. hide — to keep secret
  4. press — a publisher
  5. pitcher — a jug
  6. leaves — lets stay
  7. arm — part of the body
  8. mouse — the animal
  9. cue — a hint
  10. cue — for pool
  11. press — to push
  12. mouse — the animal
  13. press — newspapers
  14. roll — on a roll
  15. mouse — for a computer
  16. pitcher — in baseball
  17. arm — a part of something
  18. roll — a list
  19. hide — to keep secret
  20. leaves — of a tree
  21. pitcher — a jug
  22. roll — a cake
  23. cue — a signal
  24. hide — animal skin

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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