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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.

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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: arm · track · cue · racket · suit · mate · fine · press

  1. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  2. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  3. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  4. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  5. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  6. My father caught me by the ________________.
  7. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  8. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  9. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  10. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  11. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  12. Have you found your soul ________________?
  13. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  14. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  15. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  16. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  17. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  18. When will it ________________ you to start?
  19. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  20. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  21. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  22. Did you ________________ the button?
  23. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  24. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?

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

Answer key

  1. press — a publisher
  2. fine — all right
  3. cue — for pool
  4. fine — a penalty
  5. press — newspapers
  6. arm — part of the body
  7. cue — a signal
  8. track — to keep track
  9. track — a song
  10. cue — a hint
  11. racket — for tennis
  12. mate — a partner
  13. suit — clothes
  14. racket — for tennis
  15. racket — a loud noise
  16. arm — part of the body
  17. arm — a part of something
  18. suit — to fit
  19. track — a path
  20. mate — to breed
  21. suit — in cards
  22. press — to push
  23. fine — high quality
  24. mate — a friend

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