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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. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  2. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  3. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  4. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  5. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  6. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  7. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  8. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  9. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  10. He was locked up in a ________________.
  11. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  12. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  13. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  14. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  15. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  16. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  17. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  18. Have you found your soul ________________?
  19. Have you met the new head ________________?
  20. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  21. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  22. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  23. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  24. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.

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

Answer key

  1. mate — a friend
  2. mouse — the animal
  3. staff — employees
  4. coach — a trainer
  5. staff — employees
  6. cue — a hint
  7. cue — for pool
  8. mouse — for a computer
  9. mine — for digging
  10. cell — in a prison
  11. mine — belonging to me
  12. cell — a phone
  13. cue — a signal
  14. coach — pulled by horses
  15. mark — a trace
  16. mine — an explosive
  17. mouse — the animal
  18. mate — a partner
  19. coach — a trainer
  20. staff — a stick
  21. cell — in biology
  22. mark — to pay attention
  23. mark — a grade
  24. mate — to breed

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