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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. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  2. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  3. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  4. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  5. When will it ________________ you to start?
  6. He works in a ________________ mill.
  7. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  8. Have you met the new head ________________?
  9. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  10. Did you ________________ the button?
  11. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  12. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  13. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  14. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  15. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  16. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  17. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  18. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  19. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  20. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  21. She's very handy with a ________________.
  22. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  23. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  24. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.

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

Answer key

  1. net — for catching
  2. cue — a signal
  3. trunk — of a car
  4. track — to keep track
  5. suit — to fit
  6. saw — the tool
  7. suit — in cards
  8. coach — a trainer
  9. trunk — of a tree
  10. press — to push
  11. press — newspapers
  12. track — a path
  13. coach — a trainer
  14. saw — past of 'see'
  15. trunk — of an elephant
  16. coach — pulled by horses
  17. net — in sport
  18. cue — for pool
  19. suit — clothes
  20. press — a publisher
  21. saw — the tool
  22. cue — a hint
  23. net — after costs
  24. track — a song

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