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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. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  2. Where did you ________________ them?
  3. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  4. I can't ________________ this cold.
  5. The ________________ went through the wall.
  6. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  7. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  8. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  9. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  10. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  11. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  12. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  13. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  14. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  15. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  16. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  17. This piece is in a major ________________.
  18. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  19. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  20. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  21. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  22. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  23. Have you met the new head ________________?
  24. Hard work is the ________________ to success.

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

Answer key

  1. cue — a hint
  2. mug — to rob
  3. face — part of the head
  4. stand — to bear
  5. nail — for a hammer
  6. stand — on your feet
  7. fan — a supporter
  8. fan — a supporter
  9. nail — on a finger
  10. key — for a lock
  11. mug — a face
  12. cue — a signal
  13. cue — for pool
  14. coach — a trainer
  15. face — to point toward
  16. stand — for spectators
  17. key — in music
  18. fan — to cool the air
  19. face — to confront
  20. mug — a cup
  21. nail — for a hammer
  22. coach — pulled by horses
  23. coach — a trainer
  24. key — the most important part

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