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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. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  2. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  3. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  4. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  5. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  6. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  7. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  8. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  9. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  10. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  11. That must've been a ________________.
  12. I can't ________________ this cold.
  13. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  14. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  15. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  16. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  17. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  18. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  19. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  20. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  21. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  22. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  23. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  24. We're on a ________________ here.

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

Answer key

  1. foot — a measure
  2. cue — for pool
  3. mark — a grade
  4. rush — hurry
  5. dip — to dunk
  6. face — to confront
  7. roll — a cake
  8. roll — a list
  9. stand — for spectators
  10. foot — part of the body
  11. rush — a thrill
  12. stand — to bear
  13. face — to point toward
  14. cue — a hint
  15. foot — the bottom
  16. stand — on your feet
  17. face — part of the head
  18. dip — a sauce
  19. rush — to hurry
  20. mark — a trace
  21. dip — to sink
  22. mark — to pay attention
  23. cue — a signal
  24. roll — on a roll

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