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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. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  2. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  3. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  4. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  5. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  6. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  7. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  8. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  9. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  10. There's no middle ________________.
  11. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  12. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  13. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  14. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  15. I'll be taking the ________________.
  16. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  17. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  18. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  19. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  20. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  21. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  22. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  23. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  24. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.

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

Answer key

  1. ground — crushed
  2. cue — for pool
  3. ground — the earth
  4. fall — to drop
  5. snap — to click
  6. cue — a signal
  7. prune — to trim
  8. tube — in a tire
  9. prune — to trim
  10. ground — a position
  11. cue — a hint
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. mark — to pay attention
  14. fall — the season
  15. tube — the underground
  16. snap — to speak sharply
  17. safe — a strongbox
  18. mark — a trace
  19. prune — the fruit
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. fall — to drop
  22. mark — a grade
  23. snap — to snap out of it
  24. tube — a container

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