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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. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  2. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  3. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  4. We're almost out of ________________.
  5. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  6. You don't need to ________________ round.
  7. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  8. The light ________________ burned out.
  9. When will it ________________ you to start?
  10. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  11. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  12. I've got to change the light ________________.
  13. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  14. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  15. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  16. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  17. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  18. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  19. This piece is in a major ________________.
  20. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  21. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  22. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  23. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  24. My father caught me by the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. cue — a signal
  2. cue — for pool
  3. bulb — of a plant
  4. pop — soda
  5. pop — music
  6. pop — to visit
  7. suit — clothes
  8. bulb — for light
  9. suit — to fit
  10. suit — in cards
  11. cue — a hint
  12. bulb — for light
  13. arm — part of the body
  14. wound — past of 'wind'
  15. arm — a part of something
  16. deal — a big deal
  17. key — the most important part
  18. key — for a lock
  19. key — in music
  20. wound — an injury
  21. deal — to handle
  22. wound — an injury
  23. deal — an agreement
  24. arm — part of the body

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