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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. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  2. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  3. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  4. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  5. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  6. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  7. I'll be taking the ________________.
  8. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  9. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  10. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  11. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  12. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  13. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  14. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  15. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  16. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  17. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  18. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  19. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  20. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  21. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  22. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  23. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  24. I'll take my ________________ from you.

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

Answer key

  1. cue — for pool
  2. mark — to pay attention
  3. trunk — of a tree
  4. leaves — lets stay
  5. mark — a trace
  6. staff — employees
  7. tube — the underground
  8. leaves — to go away
  9. tube — a container
  10. trunk — of a car
  11. staff — employees
  12. branch — of a tree
  13. chip — for betting
  14. chip — in a computer
  15. leaves — of a tree
  16. staff — a stick
  17. trunk — of an elephant
  18. chip — to eat
  19. mark — a grade
  20. branch — of a bank
  21. branch — a division
  22. cue — a signal
  23. tube — in a tire
  24. cue — a hint

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