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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 116 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: fan · net · rash · press · cue · cell · pass · calf

  1. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  2. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  3. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  4. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  5. Did you ________________ the button?
  6. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  7. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  8. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  9. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  10. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  11. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  12. Don't do anything ________________.
  13. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  14. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  15. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  16. He was locked up in a ________________.
  17. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  18. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  19. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  20. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  21. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  22. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  23. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  24. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.

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

Answer key

  1. rash — on the skin
  2. pass — a permit
  3. net — for catching
  4. calf — a young animal
  5. press — to push
  6. fan — a supporter
  7. cue — for pool
  8. pass — to spend time
  9. cell — a phone
  10. rash — a series
  11. cell — in biology
  12. rash — hasty
  13. calf — of the leg
  14. cue — a hint
  15. net — after costs
  16. cell — in a prison
  17. calf — a young animal
  18. cue — a signal
  19. press — a publisher
  20. fan — to cool the air
  21. press — newspapers
  22. fan — a supporter
  23. net — in sport
  24. pass — to succeed

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