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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. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  2. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  3. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  4. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  5. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  6. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  7. When will it ________________ you to start?
  8. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  9. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  10. Where did you ________________ them?
  11. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  12. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  13. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  14. That was ________________ to happen.
  15. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  16. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  17. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  18. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  19. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  20. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  21. He is an ace ________________.
  22. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  23. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  24. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. suit — clothes
  2. cap — a lid
  3. lash — a whip stroke
  4. mug — a face
  5. cue — a hint
  6. pit — a hole
  7. suit — to fit
  8. cue — for pool
  9. lash — an eyelash
  10. mug — to rob
  11. cap — of ice
  12. bound — tied together
  13. pitcher — a jug
  14. bound — certain
  15. cue — a signal
  16. bound — obliged
  17. pitcher — a jug
  18. cap — a hat
  19. mug — a cup
  20. lash — to lash out
  21. pitcher — in baseball
  22. pit — in a race
  23. suit — in cards
  24. pit — a fruit stone

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