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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. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  2. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  3. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  4. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  5. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  6. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  7. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  8. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  9. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  10. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  11. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  12. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  13. What do you think of the new ________________?
  14. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  15. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  16. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  17. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  18. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  19. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  20. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  21. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  22. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  23. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  24. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.

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

Answer key

  1. cue — a signal
  2. pass — to spend time
  3. cabinet — a cupboard
  4. cue — a hint
  5. cabinet — ministers
  6. wave — a sudden rise
  7. trunk — of a tree
  8. mouse — for a computer
  9. pass — to succeed
  10. cue — for pool
  11. mouse — the animal
  12. wave — of the sea
  13. cabinet — ministers
  14. row — a quarrel
  15. wave — with your hand
  16. trunk — of a car
  17. mouse — the animal
  18. leaves — of a tree
  19. row — to paddle
  20. pass — a permit
  21. row — a line
  22. leaves — to go away
  23. trunk — of an elephant
  24. leaves — lets stay

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