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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. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  2. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  3. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  4. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  5. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  6. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  7. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  8. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  9. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  10. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  11. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  12. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  13. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  14. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  15. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  16. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  17. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  18. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  19. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  20. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  21. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  22. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  23. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  24. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.

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

Answer key

  1. hide — animal skin
  2. firm — steady
  3. net — in sport
  4. cue — for pool
  5. net — for catching
  6. cue — a hint
  7. firm — a company
  8. staff — employees
  9. cue — a signal
  10. firm — decided
  11. object — an aim
  12. object — to protest
  13. staff — a stick
  14. rock — music
  15. rock — a stone
  16. wound — an injury
  17. net — after costs
  18. wound — past of 'wind'
  19. hide — to keep secret
  20. wound — an injury
  21. rock — to move gently
  22. staff — employees
  23. hide — to keep secret
  24. object — a thing

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