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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. Don't do anything ________________.
  3. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  4. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  5. The King held a masked ________________.
  6. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  7. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  8. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  9. The ________________ took off on time.
  10. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  11. It's one o'clock ________________.
  12. My father caught me by the ________________.
  13. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  14. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  15. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  16. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  17. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  18. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  19. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  20. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  21. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  22. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  23. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  24. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. cue — for pool
  2. rash — hasty
  3. plane — a tool
  4. deal — a big deal
  5. ball — a dance
  6. firm — steady
  7. firm — decided
  8. cue — a signal
  9. plane — an aircraft
  10. rash — a series
  11. sharp — exactly
  12. arm — part of the body
  13. deal — to handle
  14. plane — in geometry
  15. arm — a part of something
  16. arm — part of the body
  17. deal — an agreement
  18. sharp — clever
  19. ball — a great time
  20. rash — on the skin
  21. ball — a round shape
  22. cue — a hint
  23. sharp — with an edge
  24. firm — a company

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