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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. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  2. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  3. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  4. You don't need to ________________ round.
  5. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  6. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  7. We're almost out of ________________.
  8. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  9. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  10. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  11. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  12. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  13. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  14. The ________________ went through the wall.
  15. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  16. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  17. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  18. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  19. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  20. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  21. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  22. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  23. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  24. I have a corn on my right ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. march — the month
  2. wake — to stop sleeping
  3. deal — a big deal
  4. pop — to visit
  5. vault — an arched ceiling
  6. march — the month
  7. pop — soda
  8. deal — an agreement
  9. pop — music
  10. cue — a signal
  11. wake — a trail
  12. nail — for a hammer
  13. cue — a hint
  14. nail — for a hammer
  15. nail — on a finger
  16. deal — to handle
  17. wake — before a funeral
  18. vault — in gymnastics
  19. march — music
  20. vault — a safe
  21. foot — a measure
  22. foot — the bottom
  23. cue — for pool
  24. foot — part of the body

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