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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. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  2. That must've been a ________________.
  3. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  4. Where did you ________________ them?
  5. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  6. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  7. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  8. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  9. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  10. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  11. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  12. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  13. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  14. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  15. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  16. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  17. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  18. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  19. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  20. There's no middle ________________.
  21. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  22. Did you ________________ the meat?
  23. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  24. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.

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

Answer key

  1. cue — for pool
  2. rush — a thrill
  3. fan — to cool the air
  4. mug — to rob
  5. season — in sport
  6. cue — a signal
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. rush — to hurry
  9. season — of the year
  10. safe — a strongbox
  11. cue — a hint
  12. ground — crushed
  13. rush — hurry
  14. spring — of water
  15. ground — the earth
  16. fan — a supporter
  17. mug — a face
  18. mug — a cup
  19. fan — a supporter
  20. ground — a position
  21. spring — the season
  22. season — to add flavour
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. spring — a coil

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