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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. When will it ________________ you to start?
  2. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  3. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  4. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  5. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  6. I'll be taking the ________________.
  7. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  8. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  9. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  10. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  11. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  12. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  13. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  14. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  15. The tickets are free of ________________.
  16. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  17. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  18. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  19. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  20. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  21. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  22. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  23. That must've been a ________________.
  24. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. suit — to fit
  2. scale — for weighing
  3. cue — a hint
  4. leaves — lets stay
  5. net — for catching
  6. tube — the underground
  7. tube — a container
  8. charge — electricity
  9. net — in sport
  10. suit — in cards
  11. cue — for pool
  12. net — after costs
  13. charge — in control
  14. cue — a signal
  15. charge — a price
  16. leaves — to go away
  17. suit — clothes
  18. tube — in a tire
  19. scale — size or range
  20. rush — to hurry
  21. rush — hurry
  22. leaves — of a tree
  23. rush — a thrill
  24. scale — in music

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