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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. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  2. The light ________________ burned out.
  3. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  4. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  5. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  6. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  7. I've got to change the light ________________.
  8. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  9. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  10. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  11. How do you ________________ your surname?
  12. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  13. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  14. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  15. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  16. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  17. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  18. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  19. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  20. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  21. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  22. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  23. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  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. bulb — for light
  3. board — a flat piece
  4. cue — for pool
  5. current — electric
  6. current — happening now
  7. bulb — for light
  8. prune — the fruit
  9. prune — to trim
  10. bulb — of a plant
  11. spell — letters
  12. pass — a permit
  13. spell — magic
  14. firm — steady
  15. prune — to trim
  16. firm — decided
  17. spell — a short time
  18. board — to get on
  19. firm — a company
  20. pass — to succeed
  21. current — of water
  22. pass — to spend time
  23. board — a committee
  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