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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. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  2. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  3. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  4. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  5. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  6. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  7. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  8. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  9. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  10. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  11. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  12. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  13. I'll be taking the ________________.
  14. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  15. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  16. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  17. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  18. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  19. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  20. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  21. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  22. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  23. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  24. Where did you ________________ them?

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

Answer key

  1. pit — in a race
  2. mug — a cup
  3. mug — a face
  4. object — to protest
  5. hand — part of the body
  6. object — a thing
  7. pit — a fruit stone
  8. calf — a young animal
  9. fan — to cool the air
  10. hand — help
  11. calf — a young animal
  12. cue — a hint
  13. tube — the underground
  14. calf — of the leg
  15. cue — a signal
  16. hand — in cards
  17. fan — a supporter
  18. tube — in a tire
  19. fan — a supporter
  20. object — an aim
  21. pit — a hole
  22. tube — a container
  23. cue — for pool
  24. mug — to rob

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