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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.

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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

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

  1. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  2. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  3. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  4. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  5. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  6. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  7. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  8. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  9. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  10. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  11. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  12. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  13. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  14. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  15. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  16. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  17. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  18. The ball hit the back of the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. rest — what's left
  2. deal — a big deal
  3. rest — what's left
  4. mouse — the animal
  5. stem — of a plant
  6. rest — a break
  7. stem — to come from
  8. net — after costs
  9. net — for catching
  10. deal — to handle
  11. mouse — for a computer
  12. cue — a signal
  13. cue — for pool
  14. stem — a stem cell
  15. cue — a hint
  16. mouse — the animal
  17. deal — an agreement
  18. net — in sport

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