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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. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  2. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  3. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  4. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  5. What do you think of the new ________________?
  6. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  7. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  8. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  9. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  10. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  11. The ________________ market has crashed.
  12. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  13. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  14. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  15. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  16. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  17. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  18. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  19. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  20. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  21. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  22. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  23. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  24. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — of a tree
  2. spring — a coil
  3. chip — in a computer
  4. cue — for pool
  5. cabinet — ministers
  6. fan — to cool the air
  7. cue — a hint
  8. scale — in music
  9. scale — for weighing
  10. chip — to eat
  11. stock — shares
  12. scale — size or range
  13. stock — a soup base
  14. fan — a supporter
  15. leaves — lets stay
  16. fan — a supporter
  17. cabinet — ministers
  18. spring — the season
  19. chip — for betting
  20. leaves — to go away
  21. cabinet — a cupboard
  22. spring — of water
  23. cue — a signal
  24. stock — goods

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