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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. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  2. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  3. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  4. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  5. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  6. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  7. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  8. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  9. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  10. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  11. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  12. That must've been a ________________.
  13. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  14. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  15. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  16. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  17. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  18. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  19. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  20. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  21. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  22. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  23. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  24. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.

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

Answer key

  1. stick — a piece of wood
  2. fan — to cool the air
  3. deal — to handle
  4. cue — for pool
  5. stick — a piece of wood
  6. shower — a meteor shower
  7. cue — a hint
  8. march — the month
  9. shower — rain
  10. board — a committee
  11. deal — an agreement
  12. rush — a thrill
  13. cue — a signal
  14. shower — to wash
  15. stick — to attach or keep to
  16. fan — a supporter
  17. rush — hurry
  18. deal — a big deal
  19. march — music
  20. rush — to hurry
  21. board — a flat piece
  22. board — to get on
  23. march — the month
  24. fan — a supporter

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