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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 I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  2. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  3. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  4. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  5. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  6. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  7. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  8. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  9. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  10. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  11. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.
  12. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  13. Did you ________________ the meat?
  14. The lid of the ________________ creaked open.
  15. I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.
  16. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  17. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  18. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  19. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  20. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  21. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  22. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  23. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  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. mouse — the animal
  3. ruler — for measuring
  4. wound — an injury
  5. ruler — a monarch
  6. track — a path
  7. cue — for pool
  8. season — of the year
  9. track — to keep track
  10. mouse — the animal
  11. chest — of your body
  12. wound — past of 'wind'
  13. season — to add flavour
  14. chest — a box
  15. chest — of your body
  16. mouse — for a computer
  17. leaves — of a tree
  18. season — in sport
  19. wound — an injury
  20. ruler — for measuring
  21. cue — a hint
  22. leaves — to go away
  23. track — a song
  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