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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.

Words on the sheet
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Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: saw · net · fan · face · cue · key · season · press

  1. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  2. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  3. Did you ________________ the meat?
  4. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  5. He works in a ________________ mill.
  6. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  7. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  8. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  9. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  10. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  11. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  12. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  13. Did you ________________ the button?
  14. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  15. This piece is in a major ________________.
  16. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  17. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  18. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  19. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  20. She's very handy with a ________________.
  21. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  22. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  23. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  24. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?

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

Answer key

  1. cue — a signal
  2. key — the most important part
  3. season — to add flavour
  4. cue — for pool
  5. saw — the tool
  6. season — in sport
  7. face — part of the head
  8. face — to confront
  9. face — to point toward
  10. press — newspapers
  11. fan — to cool the air
  12. fan — a supporter
  13. press — to push
  14. net — in sport
  15. key — in music
  16. season — of the year
  17. net — for catching
  18. net — after costs
  19. key — for a lock
  20. saw — the tool
  21. saw — past of 'see'
  22. press — a publisher
  23. cue — a hint
  24. fan — a supporter

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