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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. The King held a masked ________________.
  2. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  3. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  4. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  5. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  6. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  7. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  8. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  9. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  10. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  11. When will it ________________ you to start?
  12. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  13. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  14. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  15. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  16. Don't do anything ________________.
  17. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  18. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  19. That must've been a ________________.
  20. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  21. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  22. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  23. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  24. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.

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

Answer key

  1. ball — a dance
  2. suit — in cards
  3. suit — clothes
  4. rush — hurry
  5. mouse — the animal
  6. lie — an untruth
  7. ball — a round shape
  8. rash — a series
  9. cue — a hint
  10. cue — for pool
  11. suit — to fit
  12. rash — on the skin
  13. lie — an untruth
  14. ball — a great time
  15. squash — the sport
  16. rash — hasty
  17. lie — to recline
  18. rush — to hurry
  19. rush — a thrill
  20. squash — the vegetable
  21. mouse — the animal
  22. mouse — for a computer
  23. squash — to crush
  24. cue — a signal

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