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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 kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  2. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  3. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  4. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  5. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  6. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  7. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  8. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  9. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  10. I can't ________________ this cold.
  11. Did you ________________ the button?
  12. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  13. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  14. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  15. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  16. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  17. My mare is ________________ in color.
  18. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  19. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  20. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  21. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  22. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  23. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  24. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. scale — for weighing
  2. cue — a hint
  3. stand — on your feet
  4. bay — to keep at bay
  5. staff — a stick
  6. staff — employees
  7. press — newspapers
  8. cue — a signal
  9. wound — an injury
  10. stand — to bear
  11. press — to push
  12. root — of a word
  13. scale — size or range
  14. root — the cause
  15. wound — past of 'wind'
  16. root — of a plant
  17. bay — a horse colour
  18. wound — an injury
  19. scale — in music
  20. staff — employees
  21. bay — a part of the sea
  22. cue — for pool
  23. press — a publisher
  24. stand — for spectators

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