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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. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  2. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  3. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  4. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  5. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  6. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  7. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  8. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  9. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  10. That was ________________ to happen.
  11. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  12. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  13. Did you ________________ the button?
  14. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  15. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  16. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  17. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  18. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  19. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  20. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  21. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  22. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  23. What do you think of the new ________________?
  24. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.

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

Answer key

  1. cue — for pool
  2. press — newspapers
  3. cue — a signal
  4. wake — before a funeral
  5. pitch — a sports field
  6. bound — tied together
  7. staff — a stick
  8. bound — obliged
  9. staff — employees
  10. bound — certain
  11. cue — a hint
  12. pitch — a sales talk
  13. press — to push
  14. wake — to stop sleeping
  15. lean — thin
  16. wake — a trail
  17. lean — to rest against
  18. pitch — completely
  19. cabinet — a cupboard
  20. lean — to bend
  21. press — a publisher
  22. staff — employees
  23. cabinet — ministers
  24. cabinet — ministers

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