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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. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  2. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  3. That must've been a ________________.
  4. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  5. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  6. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  7. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  8. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  9. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  10. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  11. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  12. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  13. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  14. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  15. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  16. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  17. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  18. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  19. Did you ________________ the meat?
  20. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  21. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  22. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  23. What do you think of the new ________________?
  24. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.

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

Answer key

  1. fork — in a road
  2. wound — past of 'wind'
  3. rush — a thrill
  4. cue — for pool
  5. cue — a hint
  6. deal — a big deal
  7. season — of the year
  8. season — in sport
  9. cabinet — ministers
  10. chair — a professorship
  11. deal — to handle
  12. fork — a garden tool
  13. chair — to sit on
  14. rush — hurry
  15. fork — to eat with
  16. cabinet — a cupboard
  17. wound — an injury
  18. rush — to hurry
  19. season — to add flavour
  20. chair — a leader
  21. deal — an agreement
  22. cue — a signal
  23. cabinet — ministers
  24. wound — an injury

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