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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. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  2. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  3. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  4. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  5. When will it ________________ you to start?
  6. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  7. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  8. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  9. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  10. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  11. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  12. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  13. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  14. I'll be taking the ________________.
  15. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  16. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  17. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  18. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  19. The King held a masked ________________.
  20. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  21. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  22. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  23. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  24. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.

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

Answer key

  1. rock — a stone
  2. rest — what's left
  3. ball — a round shape
  4. cue — a hint
  5. suit — to fit
  6. current — of water
  7. cue — a signal
  8. shower — to wash
  9. shower — rain
  10. suit — in cards
  11. rock — music
  12. shower — a meteor shower
  13. tube — a container
  14. tube — the underground
  15. current — happening now
  16. rock — to move gently
  17. current — electric
  18. ball — a great time
  19. ball — a dance
  20. suit — clothes
  21. cue — for pool
  22. rest — what's left
  23. rest — a break
  24. tube — in a tire

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