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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. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  2. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  3. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  4. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  5. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  6. Did you ________________ the button?
  7. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  8. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  9. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  10. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  11. He is an ace ________________.
  12. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  13. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  14. The King held a masked ________________.
  15. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  16. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  17. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  18. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  19. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  20. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  21. That was a fun ________________.
  22. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  23. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  24. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — out of danger
  2. pitcher — a jug
  3. safe — a strongbox
  4. press — newspapers
  5. ball — a round shape
  6. press — to push
  7. game — a kind of play
  8. pitcher — a jug
  9. hide — to keep secret
  10. cue — a signal
  11. pitcher — in baseball
  12. rule — government
  13. game — wild animals
  14. ball — a dance
  15. rule — a law
  16. rule — to rule out
  17. cue — for pool
  18. ball — a great time
  19. hide — to keep secret
  20. cue — a hint
  21. game — a match
  22. safe — out of danger
  23. press — a publisher
  24. hide — animal skin

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