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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. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  2. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  3. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  4. The King held a masked ________________.
  5. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  6. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  7. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  8. My mare is ________________ in color.
  9. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  10. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  11. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  12. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  13. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  14. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  15. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  16. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  17. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  18. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  19. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  20. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  21. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  22. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  23. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  24. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. ball — a round shape
  2. fan — to cool the air
  3. bay — to keep at bay
  4. ball — a dance
  5. cue — a hint
  6. spring — a coil
  7. ruler — a monarch
  8. bay — a horse colour
  9. ball — a great time
  10. deal — a big deal
  11. mark — a grade
  12. cue — a signal
  13. ruler — for measuring
  14. cue — for pool
  15. bay — a part of the sea
  16. ruler — for measuring
  17. fan — a supporter
  18. fan — a supporter
  19. spring — the season
  20. deal — an agreement
  21. mark — to pay attention
  22. deal — to handle
  23. mark — a trace
  24. spring — of water

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