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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. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  2. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  3. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  4. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  5. Have you met the new head ________________?
  6. Where did you ________________ them?
  7. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  8. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  9. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  10. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  11. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  12. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  13. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  14. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  15. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  16. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  17. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  18. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  19. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  20. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  21. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  22. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  23. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  24. When will it ________________ you to start?

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

Answer key

  1. bark — to shout
  2. mug — a cup
  3. cue — a signal
  4. lash — to lash out
  5. coach — a trainer
  6. mug — to rob
  7. chip — for betting
  8. mug — a face
  9. cue — a hint
  10. mark — to pay attention
  11. bark — of a tree
  12. suit — clothes
  13. mark — a grade
  14. coach — a trainer
  15. coach — pulled by horses
  16. mark — a trace
  17. lash — an eyelash
  18. cue — for pool
  19. chip — in a computer
  20. chip — to eat
  21. suit — in cards
  22. bark — a dog's sound
  23. lash — a whip stroke
  24. suit — to fit

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