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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. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  2. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  3. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  4. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  5. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  6. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  7. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  8. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  9. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  10. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  11. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  12. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  13. Have you found your soul ________________?
  14. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  15. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  16. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  17. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  18. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  19. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  20. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  21. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  22. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  23. That was a fun ________________.
  24. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.

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

Answer key

  1. mate — a friend
  2. cue — for pool
  3. scale — for weighing
  4. cue — a hint
  5. cue — a signal
  6. game — wild animals
  7. bowl — to roll
  8. jam — a tight spot
  9. mate — to breed
  10. bank — for money
  11. bank — of a river
  12. bowl — a dish
  13. mate — a partner
  14. wax — to grow
  15. scale — size or range
  16. jam — in traffic
  17. wax — for sculpting
  18. wax — in the ear
  19. game — a kind of play
  20. scale — in music
  21. bowl — a football final
  22. jam — to spread on bread
  23. game — a match
  24. bank — for money

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