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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. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  2. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  3. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  4. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  5. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  6. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  7. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  8. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  9. That was a fun ________________.
  10. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  11. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  12. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  13. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  14. We're on a ________________ here.
  15. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  16. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  17. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  18. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  19. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  20. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  21. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  22. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  23. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  24. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.

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

Answer key

  1. cue — for pool
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. roll — a cake
  4. squash — to crush
  5. toast — bread
  6. club — a group
  7. squash — the vegetable
  8. bark — a dog's sound
  9. game — a match
  10. club — for dancing
  11. game — a kind of play
  12. toast — the most admired
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. roll — on a roll
  15. bark — of a tree
  16. bark — to shout
  17. squash — the sport
  18. cue — a signal
  19. game — wild animals
  20. cue — a hint
  21. safe — a strongbox
  22. club — for golf
  23. toast — a drink to someone
  24. roll — a list

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