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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.

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: scale · present · net · cue · press · wound · arm · rock

  1. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  2. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  3. Did you ________________ the button?
  4. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  5. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  6. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  7. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  8. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  9. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  10. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  11. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  12. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  13. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  14. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  15. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  16. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  17. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  18. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  19. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  20. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  21. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  22. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  23. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  24. My father caught me by the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. scale — for weighing
  2. wound — an injury
  3. press — to push
  4. present — a gift
  5. wound — past of 'wind'
  6. rock — to move gently
  7. press — newspapers
  8. net — in sport
  9. arm — a part of something
  10. cue — a hint
  11. arm — part of the body
  12. rock — a stone
  13. cue — for pool
  14. net — after costs
  15. scale — size or range
  16. present — there
  17. net — for catching
  18. rock — music
  19. press — a publisher
  20. wound — an injury
  21. cue — a signal
  22. present — the time now
  23. scale — in music
  24. arm — part of the body

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