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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. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  2. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  3. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  4. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  5. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  6. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  7. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  8. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  9. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  10. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  11. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  12. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  13. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  14. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  15. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  16. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  17. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  18. Where did you ________________ them?
  19. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  20. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  21. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  22. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  23. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  24. What was your ________________ profit last year?

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

Answer key

  1. can — to be able to
  2. mug — a face
  3. scale — for weighing
  4. cue — for pool
  5. net — in sport
  6. can — a tin
  7. scale — size or range
  8. squash — to crush
  9. toast — a drink to someone
  10. squash — the vegetable
  11. mug — a cup
  12. toast — the most admired
  13. pitch — a sports field
  14. toast — bread
  15. net — for catching
  16. cue — a signal
  17. pitch — completely
  18. mug — to rob
  19. squash — the sport
  20. can — a tin
  21. cue — a hint
  22. pitch — a sales talk
  23. scale — in music
  24. net — after costs

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