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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. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  2. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  3. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  4. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  5. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  6. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  7. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  8. When are we going to ________________?
  9. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  10. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  11. That must've been a ________________.
  12. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  13. You don't need to ________________ round.
  14. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  15. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  16. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  17. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  18. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  19. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  20. We're almost out of ________________.
  21. There's no middle ________________.
  22. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  23. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  24. Did you ________________ the button?

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

Answer key

  1. cue — for pool
  2. face — to confront
  3. rush — to hurry
  4. land — ground
  5. press — newspapers
  6. cue — a hint
  7. face — to point toward
  8. land — to come down
  9. face — part of the head
  10. ground — crushed
  11. rush — a thrill
  12. rush — hurry
  13. pop — to visit
  14. pop — music
  15. press — a publisher
  16. safe — a strongbox
  17. land — a country
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. cue — a signal
  20. pop — soda
  21. ground — a position
  22. safe — out of danger
  23. ground — the earth
  24. press — to push

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