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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 116 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. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  2. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  3. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  4. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  5. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  6. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  7. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  8. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  9. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  10. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  11. Where did you ________________ them?
  12. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  13. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  14. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  15. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  16. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  17. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  18. She's very handy with a ________________.
  19. He works in a ________________ mill.
  20. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  21. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  22. This piece is in a major ________________.
  23. It's one o'clock ________________.
  24. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bowl — to roll
  2. can — a tin
  3. bowl — a football final
  4. cue — a hint
  5. sharp — with an edge
  6. sharp — clever
  7. saw — past of 'see'
  8. cue — for pool
  9. cue — a signal
  10. prune — to trim
  11. mug — to rob
  12. can — to be able to
  13. prune — the fruit
  14. mug — a face
  15. mug — a cup
  16. key — for a lock
  17. key — the most important part
  18. saw — the tool
  19. saw — the tool
  20. can — a tin
  21. prune — to trim
  22. key — in music
  23. sharp — exactly
  24. bowl — a dish

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