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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 cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  2. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  3. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  4. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  5. When will it ________________ you to start?
  6. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  7. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  8. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  9. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  10. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  11. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  12. The King held a masked ________________.
  13. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  14. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  15. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  16. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  17. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  18. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  19. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  20. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  21. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  22. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  23. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  24. The kitten curled into a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. suit — clothes
  2. cue — a signal
  3. field — farmland
  4. track — to keep track
  5. suit — to fit
  6. mouse — for a computer
  7. track — a song
  8. cue — for pool
  9. mouse — the animal
  10. suit — in cards
  11. field — a subject
  12. ball — a dance
  13. patient — a sick person
  14. patient — calm and waiting
  15. mouse — the animal
  16. pass — to spend time
  17. ball — a great time
  18. pass — to succeed
  19. patient — a sick person
  20. pass — a permit
  21. cue — a hint
  22. track — a path
  23. field — for sport
  24. ball — a round shape

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