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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. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  3. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  4. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  5. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  6. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  7. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  8. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  9. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  10. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  11. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  12. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  13. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  14. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  15. The King held a masked ________________.
  16. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  17. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  18. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  19. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  20. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  21. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  22. That must've been a ________________.
  23. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  24. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.

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

Answer key

  1. cue — for pool
  2. jam — to spread on bread
  3. mouse — the animal
  4. rush — to hurry
  5. hide — animal skin
  6. ball — a round shape
  7. jam — a tight spot
  8. cue — a hint
  9. pitch — a sales talk
  10. snap — to speak sharply
  11. snap — to snap out of it
  12. pitch — a sports field
  13. hide — to keep secret
  14. cue — a signal
  15. ball — a dance
  16. jam — in traffic
  17. mouse — the animal
  18. snap — to click
  19. mouse — for a computer
  20. rush — hurry
  21. ball — a great time
  22. rush — a thrill
  23. hide — to keep secret
  24. pitch — completely

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