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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'd like to play a game of ________________.
  2. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  3. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  4. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  5. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  6. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  7. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  8. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  9. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  10. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  11. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  12. The light ________________ burned out.
  13. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  14. I've got to change the light ________________.
  15. Where did you ________________ them?
  16. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  17. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  18. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  19. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  20. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  21. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  22. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  23. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  24. When will it ________________ you to start?

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

Answer key

  1. squash — the sport
  2. mark — to pay attention
  3. suit — clothes
  4. fall — the season
  5. mug — a cup
  6. suit — in cards
  7. bulb — of a plant
  8. fall — to drop
  9. face — to point toward
  10. mug — a face
  11. squash — to crush
  12. bulb — for light
  13. fall — to drop
  14. bulb — for light
  15. mug — to rob
  16. cue — for pool
  17. face — part of the head
  18. mark — a trace
  19. squash — the vegetable
  20. cue — a hint
  21. face — to confront
  22. mark — a grade
  23. cue — a signal
  24. suit — to fit

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