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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. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  2. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  3. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  4. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  5. He works in a ________________ mill.
  6. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.
  7. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  8. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  9. She's very handy with a ________________.
  10. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  11. Have you found your soul ________________?
  12. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  13. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  14. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  15. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  16. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  17. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  18. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  19. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  20. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  21. I can't ________________ this cold.
  22. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  23. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  24. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.

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

Answer key

  1. bat — in an idiom
  2. mouse — the animal
  3. can — a tin
  4. mouse — the animal
  5. saw — the tool
  6. bat — for baseball
  7. mate — a friend
  8. present — the time now
  9. saw — the tool
  10. cue — a signal
  11. mate — a partner
  12. present — a gift
  13. present — there
  14. stand — on your feet
  15. bat — the animal
  16. saw — past of 'see'
  17. can — a tin
  18. cue — a hint
  19. stand — for spectators
  20. can — to be able to
  21. stand — to bear
  22. mouse — for a computer
  23. cue — for pool
  24. mate — to breed

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