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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. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  2. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  3. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  4. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  5. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  6. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  7. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  8. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  9. The ball is in your ________________.
  10. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  11. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  12. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  13. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  14. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  15. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  16. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  17. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  18. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  19. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  20. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  21. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  22. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  23. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  24. The spa offers ________________ extensions.

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

Answer key

  1. pit — in a race
  2. hide — animal skin
  3. hide — to keep secret
  4. cue — a signal
  5. fine — high quality
  6. lash — to lash out
  7. pit — a hole
  8. snap — to click
  9. court — for sport
  10. pit — a fruit stone
  11. lash — a whip stroke
  12. fine — all right
  13. can — to be able to
  14. can — a tin
  15. snap — to speak sharply
  16. court — of a king
  17. hide — to keep secret
  18. cue — a hint
  19. snap — to snap out of it
  20. cue — for pool
  21. fine — a penalty
  22. can — a tin
  23. court — of law
  24. lash — an eyelash

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