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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. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  2. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  3. Have you found your soul ________________?
  4. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  5. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  6. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  7. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  8. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  9. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  10. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  11. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  12. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  13. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  14. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  15. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  16. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  17. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  18. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  19. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  20. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  21. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  22. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  23. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  24. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.

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

Answer key

  1. straw — dry grass
  2. pass — a permit
  3. mate — a partner
  4. mark — a grade
  5. current — happening now
  6. cue — a hint
  7. fan — to cool the air
  8. rest — a break
  9. mate — a friend
  10. rest — what's left
  11. current — electric
  12. cue — for pool
  13. mate — to breed
  14. mark — a trace
  15. pass — to spend time
  16. cue — a signal
  17. rest — what's left
  18. fan — a supporter
  19. straw — a straw man
  20. straw — to clutch at straws
  21. mark — to pay attention
  22. current — of water
  23. pass — to succeed
  24. fan — a supporter

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