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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.

Make a worksheet

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
468
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: rash · cue · march · racket · rule · cabinet · last · press

  1. Did you ________________ the button?
  2. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  3. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  4. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  5. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  6. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  7. Don't do anything ________________.
  8. What do you think of the new ________________?
  9. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  10. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  11. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  12. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  13. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  14. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  15. False peace will not ________________.
  16. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  17. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  18. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  19. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  20. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  21. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  22. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  23. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  24. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?

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

Answer key

  1. press — to push
  2. racket — a loud noise
  3. rule — a law
  4. cue — a signal
  5. press — newspapers
  6. march — music
  7. rash — hasty
  8. cabinet — ministers
  9. cue — for pool
  10. racket — for tennis
  11. rule — to rule out
  12. cabinet — a cupboard
  13. march — the month
  14. last — final
  15. last — to go on
  16. press — a publisher
  17. rash — on the skin
  18. cabinet — ministers
  19. cue — a hint
  20. rash — a series
  21. last — finally
  22. racket — for tennis
  23. march — the month
  24. rule — government

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