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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. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  2. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  3. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  4. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  5. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  6. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  7. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  8. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  9. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  10. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  11. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  12. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  13. This piece is in a major ________________.
  14. Have you found your soul ________________?
  15. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  16. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  17. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  18. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  19. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  20. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  21. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  22. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  23. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  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. cue — for pool
  2. fan — to cool the air
  3. mate — to breed
  4. drill — army training
  5. fan — a supporter
  6. fine — high quality
  7. wake — to stop sleeping
  8. fine — a penalty
  9. pitch — a sports field
  10. cue — a hint
  11. drill — a practice
  12. wake — a trail
  13. key — in music
  14. mate — a partner
  15. drill — the tool
  16. fine — all right
  17. wake — before a funeral
  18. fan — a supporter
  19. pitch — completely
  20. key — for a lock
  21. key — the most important part
  22. pitch — a sales talk
  23. mate — a friend
  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