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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. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  2. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  3. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  4. He works in a ________________ mill.
  5. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  6. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  7. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  8. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  9. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  10. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  11. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  12. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  13. Don't do anything ________________.
  14. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  15. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  16. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  17. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  18. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  19. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  20. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  21. She's very handy with a ________________.
  22. The ________________ took off on time.
  23. My mare is ________________ in color.
  24. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. cue — a signal
  2. cue — for pool
  3. object — to protest
  4. saw — the tool
  5. stem — of a plant
  6. can — to be able to
  7. stem — to come from
  8. can — a tin
  9. plane — in geometry
  10. can — a tin
  11. saw — past of 'see'
  12. stem — a stem cell
  13. rash — hasty
  14. rash — on the skin
  15. bay — a part of the sea
  16. cue — a hint
  17. object — a thing
  18. plane — a tool
  19. rash — a series
  20. object — an aim
  21. saw — the tool
  22. plane — an aircraft
  23. bay — a horse colour
  24. bay — to keep at bay

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