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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. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  2. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  3. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  4. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  5. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  6. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  7. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  8. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  9. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  10. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  11. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  12. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  13. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  14. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  15. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  16. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  17. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  18. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  19. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.
  20. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  21. What do you think of the new ________________?
  22. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  23. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  24. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — the animal
  2. bat — in an idiom
  3. bat — the animal
  4. staff — employees
  5. cue — a hint
  6. cabinet — a cupboard
  7. wave — a sudden rise
  8. cue — for pool
  9. cabinet — ministers
  10. mouse — for a computer
  11. scale — in music
  12. track — a song
  13. staff — a stick
  14. cue — a signal
  15. track — a path
  16. scale — for weighing
  17. mouse — the animal
  18. staff — employees
  19. bat — for baseball
  20. wave — with your hand
  21. cabinet — ministers
  22. track — to keep track
  23. wave — of the sea
  24. scale — size or range

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