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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. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  2. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  3. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  4. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  5. She's very handy with a ________________.
  6. Have you found your soul ________________?
  7. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  8. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  9. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  10. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  11. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  12. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  13. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  14. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  15. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  16. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  17. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  18. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  19. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  20. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  21. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  22. I'll be taking the ________________.
  23. He works in a ________________ mill.
  24. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.

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

Answer key

  1. racket — for tennis
  2. tube — a container
  3. ruler — a monarch
  4. cue — for pool
  5. saw — the tool
  6. mate — a partner
  7. ruler — for measuring
  8. racket — for tennis
  9. mate — a friend
  10. jam — to spread on bread
  11. saw — past of 'see'
  12. cue — a hint
  13. mate — to breed
  14. tube — in a tire
  15. jam — a tight spot
  16. jam — in traffic
  17. kick — with a leg
  18. cue — a signal
  19. kick — a thrill
  20. racket — a loud noise
  21. ruler — for measuring
  22. tube — the underground
  23. saw — the tool
  24. kick — in football

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