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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'll take my ________________ from you.
  2. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  3. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  4. When will it ________________ you to start?
  5. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  6. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  7. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  8. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  9. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  10. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  11. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  12. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  13. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  14. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  15. You don't need to ________________ round.
  16. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  17. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  18. That must've been a ________________.
  19. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  20. We're almost out of ________________.
  21. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  22. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  23. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  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. cue — a hint
  2. pound — to hit hard
  3. rock — music
  4. suit — to fit
  5. mark — a trace
  6. pound — for dogs
  7. rush — to hurry
  8. dip — to sink
  9. suit — in cards
  10. mark — a grade
  11. rock — a stone
  12. dip — a sauce
  13. pound — a weight
  14. rush — hurry
  15. pop — to visit
  16. cue — a signal
  17. pop — music
  18. rush — a thrill
  19. suit — clothes
  20. pop — soda
  21. rock — to move gently
  22. mark — to pay attention
  23. dip — to dunk
  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