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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. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  2. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  3. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  4. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  5. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  6. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  7. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  8. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  9. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  10. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  11. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  12. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  13. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  14. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  15. When will it ________________ you to start?
  16. The King held a masked ________________.
  17. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  18. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  19. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  20. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  21. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  22. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  23. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  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. mark — a trace
  2. suit — in cards
  3. fan — a supporter
  4. bore — gave birth
  5. straw — to clutch at straws
  6. straw — dry grass
  7. bore — to tire
  8. straw — a straw man
  9. can — a tin
  10. suit — clothes
  11. cue — for pool
  12. can — to be able to
  13. mark — a grade
  14. can — a tin
  15. suit — to fit
  16. ball — a dance
  17. cue — a signal
  18. bore — to drill
  19. ball — a round shape
  20. fan — a supporter
  21. ball — a great time
  22. fan — to cool the air
  23. cue — a hint
  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