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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. I can't ________________ this cold.
  2. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  3. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  4. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  5. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  6. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  7. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  8. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  9. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  10. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  11. We're almost out of ________________.
  12. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  13. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  14. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  15. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  16. You don't need to ________________ round.
  17. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  18. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  19. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  20. Have you settled on a ________________?
  21. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  22. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  23. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  24. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.

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

Answer key

  1. stand — to bear
  2. cue — for pool
  3. rest — what's left
  4. stick — to attach or keep to
  5. shower — to wash
  6. date — the fruit
  7. rest — a break
  8. stick — a piece of wood
  9. cue — a hint
  10. date — on the calendar
  11. pop — soda
  12. jam — in traffic
  13. jam — a tight spot
  14. shower — rain
  15. stand — for spectators
  16. pop — to visit
  17. rest — what's left
  18. jam — to spread on bread
  19. cue — a signal
  20. date — on the calendar
  21. stick — a piece of wood
  22. shower — a meteor shower
  23. stand — on your feet
  24. pop — music

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