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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. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  3. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  4. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  5. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  6. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  7. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  8. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  9. I can't ________________ this cold.
  10. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  11. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  12. Where did you ________________ them?
  13. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  14. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  15. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  16. He was locked up in a ________________.
  17. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  18. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  19. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  20. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  21. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  22. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  23. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  24. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.

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

Answer key

  1. cue — a signal
  2. cell — a phone
  3. current — electric
  4. mug — a cup
  5. lie — an untruth
  6. net — in sport
  7. cue — for pool
  8. cell — in biology
  9. stand — to bear
  10. current — happening now
  11. jam — in traffic
  12. mug — to rob
  13. jam — to spread on bread
  14. current — of water
  15. stand — on your feet
  16. cell — in a prison
  17. stand — for spectators
  18. jam — a tight spot
  19. net — for catching
  20. lie — an untruth
  21. net — after costs
  22. cue — a hint
  23. lie — to recline
  24. mug — a face

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