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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 120 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. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  2. He works in a ________________ mill.
  3. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  4. She's very handy with a ________________.
  5. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  6. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  7. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  8. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  9. I've got to change the light ________________.
  10. The light ________________ burned out.
  11. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  12. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  13. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  14. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  15. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  16. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  17. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  18. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  19. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  20. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  21. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  22. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  23. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  24. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.

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

Answer key

  1. wake — a trail
  2. saw — the tool
  3. cue — a signal
  4. saw — the tool
  5. saw — past of 'see'
  6. hide — animal skin
  7. fan — a supporter
  8. fan — a supporter
  9. bulb — for light
  10. bulb — for light
  11. racket — for tennis
  12. bark — to shout
  13. racket — a loud noise
  14. bark — a dog's sound
  15. racket — for tennis
  16. cue — for pool
  17. bark — of a tree
  18. hide — to keep secret
  19. cue — a hint
  20. bulb — of a plant
  21. hide — to keep secret
  22. wake — before a funeral
  23. fan — to cool the air
  24. wake — to stop sleeping

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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