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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. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  2. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  3. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  4. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  5. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  6. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  7. He is an ace ________________.
  8. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  9. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  10. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  11. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  12. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  13. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  14. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  15. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  16. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  17. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  18. Have you met the new head ________________?
  19. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  20. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  21. This piece is in a major ________________.
  22. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  23. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  24. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.

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

Answer key

  1. cue — a hint
  2. pit — in a race
  3. racket — for tennis
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. cue — for pool
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. pitcher — in baseball
  8. racket — for tennis
  9. pitcher — a jug
  10. mark — a trace
  11. pitcher — a jug
  12. racket — a loud noise
  13. pit — a fruit stone
  14. mark — a grade
  15. coach — pulled by horses
  16. key — for a lock
  17. pit — a hole
  18. coach — a trainer
  19. cue — a signal
  20. coach — a trainer
  21. key — in music
  22. key — the most important part
  23. safe — a strongbox
  24. mark — to pay attention

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