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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. What do you think of the new ________________?
  2. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  3. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  4. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  5. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  6. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  7. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  8. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  9. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  10. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  11. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  12. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  13. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  14. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  15. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  16. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  17. Have you met the new head ________________?
  18. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  19. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  20. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  21. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  22. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  23. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  24. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — ministers
  2. cabinet — ministers
  3. net — in sport
  4. coach — pulled by horses
  5. net — for catching
  6. leaves — lets stay
  7. cue — for pool
  8. cue — a hint
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. coach — a trainer
  11. leaves — of a tree
  12. leaves — to go away
  13. net — after costs
  14. club — for dancing
  15. safe — a strongbox
  16. cabinet — a cupboard
  17. coach — a trainer
  18. mark — a grade
  19. club — a group
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. club — for golf
  22. cue — a signal
  23. mark — to pay attention
  24. mark — a trace

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