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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 120 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. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  3. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  4. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  5. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  6. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  7. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  8. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  9. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  10. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  11. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  12. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  13. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  14. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  15. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  16. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  17. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  18. Where did you ________________ them?
  19. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  20. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  21. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  22. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  23. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  24. Do you need a ________________ with that?

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

Answer key

  1. cue — a hint
  2. staff — employees
  3. mug — a cup
  4. can — to be able to
  5. prune — to trim
  6. can — a tin
  7. foot — part of the body
  8. rest — a break
  9. foot — the bottom
  10. cue — a signal
  11. cue — for pool
  12. foot — a measure
  13. staff — employees
  14. rest — what's left
  15. mug — a face
  16. staff — a stick
  17. hand — in cards
  18. mug — to rob
  19. prune — to trim
  20. hand — part of the body
  21. rest — what's left
  22. can — a tin
  23. prune — the fruit
  24. hand — help

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