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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. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  2. It's one o'clock ________________.
  3. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  4. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  5. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  6. The ________________ took off on time.
  7. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  8. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  9. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  10. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  11. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  12. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  13. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  14. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  15. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  16. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  17. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  18. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  19. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  20. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  21. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  22. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  23. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  24. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.

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

Answer key

  1. cue — a hint
  2. sharp — exactly
  3. cue — for pool
  4. sharp — with an edge
  5. plane — in geometry
  6. plane — an aircraft
  7. squash — to crush
  8. pass — to spend time
  9. sharp — clever
  10. scale — in music
  11. scale — for weighing
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. scale — size or range
  14. safe — a strongbox
  15. face — to point toward
  16. cue — a signal
  17. face — to confront
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. face — part of the head
  20. pass — a permit
  21. squash — the sport
  22. plane — a tool
  23. pass — to succeed
  24. squash — the vegetable

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