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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. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  2. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  3. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  4. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  5. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  6. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  7. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  8. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  9. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  10. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  11. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  12. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  13. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  14. When will it ________________ you to start?
  15. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  16. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  17. It's one o'clock ________________.
  18. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  19. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  20. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  21. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  22. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  23. I'll be taking the ________________.
  24. This knife is not ________________ enough.

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

Answer key

  1. suit — clothes
  2. tube — a container
  3. staff — employees
  4. perch — for a bird
  5. cue — a signal
  6. tube — in a tire
  7. mine — for digging
  8. cue — a hint
  9. cue — for pool
  10. mine — an explosive
  11. sharp — clever
  12. lie — an untruth
  13. suit — in cards
  14. suit — to fit
  15. lie — to recline
  16. staff — a stick
  17. sharp — exactly
  18. perch — for a bird
  19. mine — belonging to me
  20. staff — employees
  21. lie — an untruth
  22. perch — the fish
  23. tube — the underground
  24. sharp — with an edge

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