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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. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  3. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  4. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  5. There's no middle ________________.
  6. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  7. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  8. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  9. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  10. Did you ________________ the meat?
  11. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  12. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  13. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  14. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  15. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  16. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  17. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  18. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  19. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  20. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  21. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  22. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  23. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  24. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?

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

Answer key

  1. cue — for pool
  2. ground — crushed
  3. season — of the year
  4. fan — to cool the air
  5. ground — a position
  6. cue — a hint
  7. ground — the earth
  8. cue — a signal
  9. wound — an injury
  10. season — to add flavour
  11. rock — a stone
  12. scale — size or range
  13. wound — past of 'wind'
  14. season — in sport
  15. dip — a sauce
  16. wound — an injury
  17. rock — to move gently
  18. dip — to dunk
  19. dip — to sink
  20. rock — music
  21. fan — a supporter
  22. scale — for weighing
  23. scale — in music
  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