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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. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  3. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  4. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  5. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  6. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  7. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  8. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  9. David sat on the ________________.
  10. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  11. That must've been a ________________.
  12. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  13. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  14. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  15. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  16. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  17. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  18. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  19. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  20. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  21. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  22. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  23. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  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. scale — for weighing
  3. deal — a big deal
  4. swing — music
  5. deal — an agreement
  6. mine — an explosive
  7. rest — what's left
  8. hide — animal skin
  9. swing — to play on
  10. swing — in golf
  11. rush — a thrill
  12. rest — what's left
  13. rush — to hurry
  14. cue — a hint
  15. scale — size or range
  16. deal — to handle
  17. hide — to keep secret
  18. rush — hurry
  19. hide — to keep secret
  20. rest — a break
  21. scale — in music
  22. mine — belonging to me
  23. mine — for digging
  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