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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. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  2. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  3. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  4. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  5. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  6. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  7. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  8. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  9. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  10. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  11. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  12. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  13. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  14. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  15. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  16. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  17. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  18. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  19. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  20. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  21. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  22. My mare is ________________ in color.
  23. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  24. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.

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

Answer key

  1. rest — what's left
  2. mark — to pay attention
  3. rest — what's left
  4. cue — for pool
  5. wound — past of 'wind'
  6. bass — the instrument
  7. bay — to keep at bay
  8. mouse — the animal
  9. can — to be able to
  10. bay — a part of the sea
  11. bass — low music
  12. wound — an injury
  13. rest — a break
  14. mark — a grade
  15. cue — a hint
  16. wound — an injury
  17. cue — a signal
  18. mouse — for a computer
  19. bass — the fish
  20. mark — a trace
  21. can — a tin
  22. bay — a horse colour
  23. can — a tin
  24. mouse — the animal

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