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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 ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  2. Its rival in the ________________ War, the Soviet Union, exploited this at the time.
  3. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  4. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  5. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  6. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  7. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  8. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  9. I had a bad ________________ and was in bed for a week.
  10. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  11. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  12. What do you think of the new ________________?
  13. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  14. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  15. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  16. The water is too ________________.
  17. Did you ________________ the button?
  18. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  19. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  20. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  21. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  22. The tickets are free of ________________.
  23. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  24. Have you met the new head ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. coach — a trainer
  2. cold — the Cold War
  3. cue — a hint
  4. track — a path
  5. cue — for pool
  6. coach — pulled by horses
  7. rest — what's left
  8. charge — in control
  9. cold — an illness
  10. track — to keep track
  11. track — a song
  12. cabinet — ministers
  13. charge — electricity
  14. press — a publisher
  15. cabinet — ministers
  16. cold — not warm
  17. press — to push
  18. cabinet — a cupboard
  19. rest — what's left
  20. rest — a break
  21. press — newspapers
  22. charge — a price
  23. cue — a signal
  24. coach — a trainer

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