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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. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  2. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  3. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  4. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  5. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  6. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  7. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  8. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  9. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  10. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  11. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  12. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  13. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  14. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  15. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  16. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  17. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  18. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  19. When will it ________________ you to start?
  20. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  21. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  22. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  23. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  24. He is an ace ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. cue — for pool
  2. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  3. firm — decided
  4. pitcher — a jug
  5. mark — a grade
  6. pitcher — a jug
  7. jam — to spread on bread
  8. firm — steady
  9. jam — a tight spot
  10. kid — to tease
  11. bore — to tire
  12. mark — to pay attention
  13. suit — in cards
  14. mark — a trace
  15. bore — gave birth
  16. kid — child
  17. cue — a hint
  18. suit — clothes
  19. suit — to fit
  20. jam — in traffic
  21. firm — a company
  22. cue — a signal
  23. bore — to drill
  24. pitcher — in baseball

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