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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. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  3. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  4. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  5. Don't do anything ________________.
  6. What do you think of the new ________________?
  7. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  8. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  9. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  10. The King held a masked ________________.
  11. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  12. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  13. The lid of the ________________ creaked open.
  14. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  15. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  16. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  17. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  18. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  19. I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.
  20. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  21. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  22. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  23. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.
  24. He took the fish out of the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. cue — for pool
  2. cabinet — a cupboard
  3. cabinet — ministers
  4. net — in sport
  5. rash — hasty
  6. cabinet — ministers
  7. mark — a grade
  8. cue — a hint
  9. can — a tin
  10. ball — a dance
  11. ball — a round shape
  12. mark — to pay attention
  13. chest — a box
  14. can — a tin
  15. cue — a signal
  16. net — after costs
  17. mark — a trace
  18. rash — a series
  19. chest — of your body
  20. rash — on the skin
  21. ball — a great time
  22. can — to be able to
  23. chest — of your body
  24. net — for catching

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