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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 116 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. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  2. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  3. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  4. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  5. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  6. This piece is in a major ________________.
  7. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  8. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  9. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  10. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  11. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  12. It's one o'clock ________________.
  13. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  14. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  15. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  16. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  17. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  18. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  19. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  20. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  21. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  22. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  23. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  24. Hard work is the ________________ to success.

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — the animal
  2. mouse — for a computer
  3. sharp — clever
  4. sharp — with an edge
  5. mark — to pay attention
  6. key — in music
  7. mouse — the animal
  8. cue — a hint
  9. staff — employees
  10. wave — with your hand
  11. key — for a lock
  12. sharp — exactly
  13. field — a subject
  14. staff — a stick
  15. staff — employees
  16. field — for sport
  17. mark — a grade
  18. cue — for pool
  19. wave — of the sea
  20. field — farmland
  21. mark — a trace
  22. wave — a sudden rise
  23. cue — a signal
  24. key — the most important part

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