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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 120 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. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  2. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  3. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  4. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  5. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  6. I've got to change the light ________________.
  7. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  8. When will it ________________ you to start?
  9. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  10. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  11. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  12. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  13. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  14. Did you ________________ the button?
  15. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  16. The light ________________ burned out.
  17. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  18. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  19. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  20. When was this ________________ built?
  21. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  22. The ________________ went through the wall.
  23. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  24. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.

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

Answer key

  1. cue — a hint
  2. wave — a sudden rise
  3. press — a publisher
  4. press — newspapers
  5. shower — rain
  6. bulb — for light
  7. cue — a signal
  8. suit — to fit
  9. wave — with your hand
  10. cue — for pool
  11. wave — of the sea
  12. nail — on a finger
  13. shower — to wash
  14. press — to push
  15. nail — for a hammer
  16. bulb — for light
  17. shower — a meteor shower
  18. suit — clothes
  19. temple — a place of worship
  20. temple — a place of worship
  21. bulb — of a plant
  22. nail — for a hammer
  23. suit — in cards
  24. temple — side of the head

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