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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. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  2. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  3. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  4. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  5. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  6. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  7. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  8. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  9. What do you think of the new ________________?
  10. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  11. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  12. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  13. That was a fun ________________.
  14. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  15. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  16. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  17. Have you found your soul ________________?
  18. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  19. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  20. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  21. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  22. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  23. Did you ________________ the button?
  24. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?

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

Answer key

  1. toast — the most admired
  2. deal — to handle
  3. game — a kind of play
  4. cue — for pool
  5. cue — a hint
  6. mate — to breed
  7. cabinet — a cupboard
  8. lash — an eyelash
  9. cabinet — ministers
  10. press — a publisher
  11. deal — an agreement
  12. cabinet — ministers
  13. game — a match
  14. cue — a signal
  15. lash — a whip stroke
  16. toast — a drink to someone
  17. mate — a partner
  18. toast — bread
  19. game — wild animals
  20. deal — a big deal
  21. lash — to lash out
  22. press — newspapers
  23. press — to push
  24. mate — a friend

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