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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. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  2. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  3. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  4. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  5. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  6. This piece is in a major ________________.
  7. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  8. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  9. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  10. False peace will not ________________.
  11. When will it ________________ you to start?
  12. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  13. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  14. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  15. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  16. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  17. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  18. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  19. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  20. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  21. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  22. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  23. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  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. stick — a piece of wood
  2. rock — to move gently
  3. stick — a piece of wood
  4. hand — in cards
  5. cue — for pool
  6. key — in music
  7. rock — music
  8. suit — clothes
  9. rock — a stone
  10. last — to go on
  11. suit — to fit
  12. cue — a hint
  13. dip — to sink
  14. last — finally
  15. hand — part of the body
  16. stick — to attach or keep to
  17. key — the most important part
  18. dip — to dunk
  19. dip — a sauce
  20. last — final
  21. suit — in cards
  22. hand — help
  23. key — for a lock
  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