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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. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  2. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  3. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  4. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  5. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  6. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  7. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  8. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  9. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  10. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  11. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  12. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  13. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  14. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  15. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  16. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  17. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  18. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  19. Did you ________________ the button?
  20. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  21. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  22. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  23. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  24. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.

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

Answer key

  1. press — newspapers
  2. rock — a stone
  3. press — a publisher
  4. chip — to eat
  5. leaves — of a tree
  6. dip — to sink
  7. mark — a grade
  8. leaves — to go away
  9. dip — to dunk
  10. rock — to move gently
  11. shower — to wash
  12. shower — rain
  13. rock — music
  14. cue — a hint
  15. dip — a sauce
  16. chip — in a computer
  17. mark — a trace
  18. shower — a meteor shower
  19. press — to push
  20. cue — for pool
  21. chip — for betting
  22. mark — to pay attention
  23. leaves — lets stay
  24. cue — a signal

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