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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 120 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 can't ________________ this cold.
  2. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  3. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  4. That must've been a ________________.
  5. Don't do anything ________________.
  6. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  7. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  8. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  9. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  10. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  11. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  12. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  13. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  14. Have you met the new head ________________?
  15. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  16. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  17. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  18. Where did you ________________ them?
  19. The ________________ took off on time.
  20. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  21. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  22. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  23. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  24. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.

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

Answer key

  1. stand — to bear
  2. mug — a cup
  3. coach — pulled by horses
  4. rush — a thrill
  5. rash — hasty
  6. rush — hurry
  7. rash — on the skin
  8. mug — a face
  9. plane — a tool
  10. cue — a signal
  11. stand — on your feet
  12. stand — for spectators
  13. cue — a hint
  14. coach — a trainer
  15. plane — in geometry
  16. coach — a trainer
  17. rash — a series
  18. mug — to rob
  19. plane — an aircraft
  20. rock — a stone
  21. rock — music
  22. rock — to move gently
  23. rush — to hurry
  24. cue — for pool

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