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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. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  2. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  3. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  4. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  5. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  6. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  7. We're almost out of ________________.
  8. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  9. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  10. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  11. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  12. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  13. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  14. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  15. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  16. You don't need to ________________ round.
  17. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  18. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  19. I can't ________________ this cold.
  20. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  21. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  22. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  23. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  24. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.

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

Answer key

  1. stand — for spectators
  2. mark — a trace
  3. perch — the fish
  4. perch — for a bird
  5. cue — a signal
  6. kick — a thrill
  7. pop — soda
  8. cue — a hint
  9. pop — music
  10. bear — to put up with
  11. bear — the animal
  12. kick — with a leg
  13. row — a quarrel
  14. perch — for a bird
  15. row — to paddle
  16. pop — to visit
  17. stand — on your feet
  18. row — a line
  19. stand — to bear
  20. mark — a grade
  21. bear — the animal
  22. kick — in football
  23. cue — for pool
  24. mark — to pay attention

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