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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 don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  2. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  3. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  4. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  5. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  6. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  7. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  8. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  9. This piece is in a major ________________.
  10. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  11. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  12. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  13. That must've been a ________________.
  14. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  15. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  16. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  17. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  18. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  19. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  20. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  21. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  22. He is an ace ________________.
  23. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  24. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — the animal
  2. pitcher — a jug
  3. cue — a hint
  4. rush — hurry
  5. pitcher — a jug
  6. squash — to crush
  7. cue — for pool
  8. cue — a signal
  9. key — in music
  10. bowl — to roll
  11. bowl — a dish
  12. foot — part of the body
  13. rush — a thrill
  14. bowl — a football final
  15. squash — the vegetable
  16. rush — to hurry
  17. foot — the bottom
  18. squash — the sport
  19. key — for a lock
  20. foot — a measure
  21. mouse — for a computer
  22. pitcher — in baseball
  23. key — the most important part
  24. mouse — the animal

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