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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. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  2. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  3. The light ________________ burned out.
  4. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  5. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  6. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  7. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  8. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  9. The ________________ went through the wall.
  10. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  11. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  12. What do you think of the new ________________?
  13. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  14. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  15. I've got to change the light ________________.
  16. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  17. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  18. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  19. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  20. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  21. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  22. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  23. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  24. The ball hit the back of the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. cue — a signal
  2. net — after costs
  3. bulb — for light
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. net — for catching
  7. cue — a hint
  8. can — a tin
  9. nail — for a hammer
  10. can — to be able to
  11. board — a committee
  12. cabinet — ministers
  13. board — to get on
  14. can — a tin
  15. bulb — for light
  16. nail — for a hammer
  17. board — a flat piece
  18. cabinet — ministers
  19. nail — on a finger
  20. safe — a strongbox
  21. cabinet — a cupboard
  22. bulb — of a plant
  23. cue — for pool
  24. net — in sport

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