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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. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  2. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  3. I'll be taking the ________________.
  4. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  5. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  6. The ________________ went through the wall.
  7. Have you met the new head ________________?
  8. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  9. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  10. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  11. There's no middle ________________.
  12. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  13. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  14. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  15. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  16. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  17. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  18. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  19. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  20. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  21. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  22. When will it ________________ you to start?
  23. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  24. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.

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

Answer key

  1. coach — a trainer
  2. ground — the earth
  3. tube — the underground
  4. squash — the vegetable
  5. tube — in a tire
  6. nail — for a hammer
  7. coach — a trainer
  8. cue — a signal
  9. fine — all right
  10. nail — for a hammer
  11. ground — a position
  12. cue — a hint
  13. ground — crushed
  14. squash — to crush
  15. coach — pulled by horses
  16. suit — clothes
  17. fine — a penalty
  18. suit — in cards
  19. fine — high quality
  20. nail — on a finger
  21. tube — a container
  22. suit — to fit
  23. squash — the sport
  24. cue — for pool

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