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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. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  2. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  3. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  4. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  5. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  6. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  7. Did you ________________ the meat?
  8. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  9. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  10. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  11. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  12. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  13. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  14. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  15. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  16. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  17. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  18. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  19. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  20. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  21. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  22. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  23. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  24. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.

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

Answer key

  1. season — in sport
  2. cue — for pool
  3. mine — belonging to me
  4. deal — to handle
  5. shower — a meteor shower
  6. board — to get on
  7. season — to add flavour
  8. shower — rain
  9. board — a flat piece
  10. deal — an agreement
  11. cue — a hint
  12. stick — a piece of wood
  13. cue — a signal
  14. pit — in a race
  15. mine — for digging
  16. stick — a piece of wood
  17. mine — an explosive
  18. board — a committee
  19. shower — to wash
  20. season — of the year
  21. stick — to attach or keep to
  22. pit — a fruit stone
  23. pit — a hole
  24. deal — a big deal

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