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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. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  2. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  3. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  4. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  5. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  6. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  7. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  8. I'll be taking the ________________.
  9. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  10. Have you found your soul ________________?
  11. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  12. The tickets are free of ________________.
  13. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  14. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  15. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  16. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  17. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  18. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  19. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  20. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  21. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  22. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  23. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  24. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?

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

Answer key

  1. mine — for digging
  2. cue — for pool
  3. mine — belonging to me
  4. wave — of the sea
  5. board — a flat piece
  6. fan — to cool the air
  7. tube — a container
  8. tube — the underground
  9. charge — electricity
  10. mate — a partner
  11. tube — in a tire
  12. charge — a price
  13. mate — to breed
  14. wave — with your hand
  15. board — a committee
  16. fan — a supporter
  17. fan — a supporter
  18. charge — in control
  19. board — to get on
  20. mine — an explosive
  21. cue — a hint
  22. wave — a sudden rise
  23. cue — a signal
  24. mate — a friend

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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