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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 can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  2. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  3. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  4. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  5. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  6. Have you found your soul ________________?
  7. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  8. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  9. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  10. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  11. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  12. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  13. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  14. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  15. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  16. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  17. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  18. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  19. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  20. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  21. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  22. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  23. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  24. He is an ace ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. cue — for pool
  2. snap — to speak sharply
  3. chip — in a computer
  4. pitcher — a jug
  5. kick — in football
  6. mate — a partner
  7. vault — a safe
  8. snap — to click
  9. snap — to snap out of it
  10. vault — an arched ceiling
  11. pitcher — a jug
  12. mate — to breed
  13. kick — with a leg
  14. vault — in gymnastics
  15. chip — to eat
  16. kick — a thrill
  17. foot — part of the body
  18. cue — a hint
  19. foot — a measure
  20. mate — a friend
  21. cue — a signal
  22. chip — for betting
  23. foot — the bottom
  24. pitcher — in baseball

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