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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 120 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. When will it ________________ you to start?
  3. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  4. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  5. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  6. This piece is in a major ________________.
  7. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  8. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  9. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  10. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  11. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  12. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  13. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  14. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  15. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  16. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  17. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  18. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  19. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  20. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  21. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  22. I'll be taking the ________________.
  23. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  24. He has no idea where the ________________ is.

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

Answer key

  1. cue — a signal
  2. suit — to fit
  3. bore — gave birth
  4. tube — in a tire
  5. key — the most important part
  6. key — in music
  7. row — a line
  8. bore — to tire
  9. suit — clothes
  10. suit — in cards
  11. can — a tin
  12. tube — a container
  13. cue — a hint
  14. cue — for pool
  15. can — a tin
  16. can — to be able to
  17. row — a quarrel
  18. key — for a lock
  19. bore — to drill
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. row — to paddle
  22. tube — the underground
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. safe — a strongbox

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