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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. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  2. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  3. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  4. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  5. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  6. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  7. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  8. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  9. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  10. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  11. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  12. She's very handy with a ________________.
  13. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  14. He is an ace ________________.
  15. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  16. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  17. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  18. This piece is in a major ________________.
  19. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  20. He works in a ________________ mill.
  21. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  22. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  23. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  24. Hard work is the ________________ to success.

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

Answer key

  1. cue — for pool
  2. pitcher — a jug
  3. cue — a signal
  4. mouse — the animal
  5. perch — for a bird
  6. lash — a whip stroke
  7. bore — to tire
  8. saw — past of 'see'
  9. mouse — the animal
  10. pitcher — a jug
  11. key — for a lock
  12. saw — the tool
  13. bore — gave birth
  14. pitcher — in baseball
  15. perch — for a bird
  16. cue — a hint
  17. perch — the fish
  18. key — in music
  19. mouse — for a computer
  20. saw — the tool
  21. lash — an eyelash
  22. lash — to lash out
  23. bore — to drill
  24. key — the most important part

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