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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. We're on a ________________ here.
  3. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  4. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  5. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  6. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  7. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  8. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  9. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  10. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  11. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  12. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  13. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  14. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  15. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  16. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  17. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  18. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  19. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  20. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  21. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  22. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  23. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  24. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.

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

Answer key

  1. cue — for pool
  2. roll — on a roll
  3. rock — to move gently
  4. cap — a hat
  5. cue — a signal
  6. lean — thin
  7. club — a group
  8. cap — a lid
  9. mine — belonging to me
  10. mine — an explosive
  11. lean — to rest against
  12. roll — a list
  13. rock — music
  14. lash — an eyelash
  15. club — for golf
  16. cue — a hint
  17. cap — of ice
  18. lash — a whip stroke
  19. lean — to bend
  20. mine — for digging
  21. rock — a stone
  22. lash — to lash out
  23. roll — a cake
  24. club — for dancing

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