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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. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  3. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  4. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  5. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  6. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  7. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  8. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  9. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  10. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  11. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  12. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  13. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  14. That must've been a ________________.
  15. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  16. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  17. She's very handy with a ________________.
  18. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  19. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  20. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  21. He works in a ________________ mill.
  22. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  23. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  24. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. cue — a signal
  2. can — to be able to
  3. bank — for money
  4. bear — to put up with
  5. can — a tin
  6. saw — past of 'see'
  7. bank — for money
  8. current — electric
  9. bank — of a river
  10. cue — a hint
  11. craft — a skill
  12. rush — to hurry
  13. bear — the animal
  14. rush — a thrill
  15. current — of water
  16. craft — boats
  17. saw — the tool
  18. craft — a handicraft
  19. current — happening now
  20. cue — for pool
  21. saw — the tool
  22. can — a tin
  23. rush — hurry
  24. bear — the animal

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