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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. Have you met the new head ________________?
  2. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  3. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  4. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  5. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  6. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  7. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  8. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  9. When was this ________________ built?
  10. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  11. What do you think of the new ________________?
  12. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  13. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  14. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  15. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  16. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  17. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  18. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  19. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  20. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  21. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  22. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  23. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  24. I'll take my ________________ from you.

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

Answer key

  1. coach — a trainer
  2. fan — to cool the air
  3. shower — to wash
  4. chair — a leader
  5. temple — a place of worship
  6. chair — a professorship
  7. cue — a signal
  8. track — a path
  9. temple — a place of worship
  10. cue — for pool
  11. cabinet — ministers
  12. track — a song
  13. shower — rain
  14. cabinet — a cupboard
  15. temple — side of the head
  16. fan — a supporter
  17. fan — a supporter
  18. chair — to sit on
  19. coach — a trainer
  20. cabinet — ministers
  21. shower — a meteor shower
  22. track — to keep track
  23. coach — pulled by horses
  24. cue — a hint

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