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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. When was this ________________ built?
  3. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  4. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  5. The lid of the ________________ creaked open.
  6. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  7. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  8. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  9. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  10. The ________________ went through the wall.
  11. When are we going to ________________?
  12. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  13. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  14. When will it ________________ you to start?
  15. I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.
  16. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  17. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  18. I'll be taking the ________________.
  19. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  20. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  21. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  22. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  23. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.
  24. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.

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

Answer key

  1. cue — for pool
  2. temple — a place of worship
  3. nail — for a hammer
  4. suit — clothes
  5. chest — a box
  6. land — a country
  7. tube — in a tire
  8. tube — a container
  9. deal — a big deal
  10. nail — for a hammer
  11. land — to come down
  12. temple — side of the head
  13. suit — in cards
  14. suit — to fit
  15. chest — of your body
  16. cue — a hint
  17. temple — a place of worship
  18. tube — the underground
  19. nail — on a finger
  20. deal — to handle
  21. land — ground
  22. cue — a signal
  23. chest — of your body
  24. deal — an agreement

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