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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 120 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. What do you think of the new ________________?
  2. You don't need to ________________ round.
  3. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  4. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  5. We're almost out of ________________.
  6. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  7. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  8. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  9. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  10. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  11. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  12. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  13. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  14. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  15. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  16. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  17. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  18. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  19. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  20. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  21. He was locked up in a ________________.
  22. Where did you ________________ them?
  23. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  24. I play ________________ in a jazz band.

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — ministers
  2. pop — to visit
  3. cell — in biology
  4. bass — low music
  5. pop — soda
  6. cabinet — ministers
  7. cue — a signal
  8. mug — a cup
  9. cabinet — a cupboard
  10. cue — a hint
  11. cue — for pool
  12. board — a flat piece
  13. stem — to come from
  14. stem — of a plant
  15. board — to get on
  16. bass — the fish
  17. cell — a phone
  18. board — a committee
  19. pop — music
  20. mug — a face
  21. cell — in a prison
  22. mug — to rob
  23. stem — a stem cell
  24. bass — the instrument

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