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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. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  3. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  4. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  5. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  6. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  7. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  8. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  9. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  10. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  11. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  12. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  13. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  14. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  15. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  16. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  17. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  18. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  19. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  20. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  21. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  22. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  23. When was this ________________ built?
  24. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.

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

Answer key

  1. cue — a signal
  2. fine — high quality
  3. can — to be able to
  4. deal — an agreement
  5. can — a tin
  6. cue — a hint
  7. temple — a place of worship
  8. leaves — to go away
  9. leaves — lets stay
  10. lean — to bend
  11. can — a tin
  12. stem — to come from
  13. leaves — of a tree
  14. fine — a penalty
  15. lean — to rest against
  16. temple — side of the head
  17. stem — a stem cell
  18. deal — a big deal
  19. deal — to handle
  20. stem — of a plant
  21. fine — all right
  22. lean — thin
  23. temple — a place of worship
  24. cue — for pool

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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