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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. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  2. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  3. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  4. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  5. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  6. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  7. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  8. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  9. When will it ________________ you to start?
  10. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  11. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  12. The King held a masked ________________.
  13. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  14. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  15. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  16. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  17. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  18. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  19. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  20. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  21. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  22. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  23. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  24. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.

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

Answer key

  1. cue — a signal
  2. cue — a hint
  3. leaves — lets stay
  4. cue — for pool
  5. ball — a great time
  6. ball — a round shape
  7. rest — a break
  8. calf — a young animal
  9. suit — to fit
  10. wave — with your hand
  11. leaves — to go away
  12. ball — a dance
  13. march — the month
  14. calf — of the leg
  15. rest — what's left
  16. suit — clothes
  17. march — music
  18. calf — a young animal
  19. wave — a sudden rise
  20. leaves — of a tree
  21. march — the month
  22. wave — of the sea
  23. suit — in cards
  24. rest — what's left

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