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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. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  2. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  3. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  4. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  5. It's one o'clock ________________.
  6. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  7. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  8. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  9. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  10. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  11. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  12. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  13. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  14. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  15. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  16. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  17. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  18. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  19. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  20. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  21. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  22. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  23. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  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 — a signal
  2. object — an aim
  3. file — a document
  4. cue — for pool
  5. sharp — exactly
  6. object — to protest
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. dip — a sauce
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. deal — an agreement
  11. object — a thing
  12. fan — a supporter
  13. dip — to sink
  14. deal — a big deal
  15. fan — a supporter
  16. deal — to handle
  17. sharp — clever
  18. dip — to dunk
  19. file — a line of people
  20. sharp — with an edge
  21. file — a tool
  22. fan — to cool the air
  23. safe — a strongbox
  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