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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.

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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. How do you ________________ your surname?
  2. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  3. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  4. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  5. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  6. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  7. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  8. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  9. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  10. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  11. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  12. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  13. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  14. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  15. Where did you ________________ them?
  16. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  17. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  18. We're on a ________________ here.

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

Answer key

  1. spell — letters
  2. mug — a cup
  3. cue — a signal
  4. vault — in gymnastics
  5. toast — the most admired
  6. vault — an arched ceiling
  7. cue — a hint
  8. roll — a cake
  9. spell — magic
  10. toast — a drink to someone
  11. mug — a face
  12. cue — for pool
  13. toast — bread
  14. vault — a safe
  15. mug — to rob
  16. spell — a short time
  17. roll — a list
  18. roll — on a roll

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