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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. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  2. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  3. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  4. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  5. Did you ________________ the button?
  6. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  7. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  8. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  9. It's one o'clock ________________.
  10. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  11. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  12. He is an ace ________________.
  13. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  14. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  15. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  16. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  17. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  18. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  19. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  20. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  21. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  22. Did you ________________ the meat?
  23. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  24. Fill up this ________________ with water.

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

Answer key

  1. march — the month
  2. march — the month
  3. lie — an untruth
  4. cap — a lid
  5. press — to push
  6. march — music
  7. press — newspapers
  8. press — a publisher
  9. sharp — exactly
  10. sharp — with an edge
  11. sharp — clever
  12. pitcher — in baseball
  13. lie — an untruth
  14. season — in sport
  15. cue — for pool
  16. season — of the year
  17. pitcher — a jug
  18. lie — to recline
  19. cap — of ice
  20. cap — a hat
  21. cue — a signal
  22. season — to add flavour
  23. cue — a hint
  24. pitcher — a jug

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