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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. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  2. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  3. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  4. I'll be taking the ________________.
  5. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  6. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  7. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  8. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  9. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  10. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  11. We're on a ________________ here.
  12. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  13. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  14. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  15. Where did you ________________ them?
  16. Have you found your soul ________________?
  17. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  18. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  19. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  20. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  21. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  22. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  23. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  24. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.

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

Answer key

  1. mark — a grade
  2. roll — a cake
  3. tube — in a tire
  4. tube — the underground
  5. cue — a hint
  6. racket — for tennis
  7. racket — a loud noise
  8. roll — a list
  9. racket — for tennis
  10. cue — a signal
  11. roll — on a roll
  12. mate — a friend
  13. mark — a trace
  14. cue — for pool
  15. mug — to rob
  16. mate — a partner
  17. mug — a cup
  18. mug — a face
  19. tube — a container
  20. current — of water
  21. current — electric
  22. mate — to breed
  23. current — happening now
  24. mark — to pay attention

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