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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 train ________________ at six o'clock.
  2. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  3. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  4. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  5. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  6. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  7. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  8. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  9. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  10. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  11. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  12. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  13. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  14. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  15. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  16. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  17. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  18. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  19. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  20. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  21. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  22. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  23. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  24. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — to go away
  2. kick — in football
  3. hand — in cards
  4. cue — a hint
  5. lie — an untruth
  6. hand — part of the body
  7. cue — for pool
  8. chip — to eat
  9. kick — a thrill
  10. lie — to recline
  11. leaves — lets stay
  12. foot — a measure
  13. chip — for betting
  14. foot — the bottom
  15. foot — part of the body
  16. chip — in a computer
  17. bowl — a dish
  18. hand — help
  19. lie — an untruth
  20. bowl — to roll
  21. leaves — of a tree
  22. kick — with a leg
  23. cue — a signal
  24. bowl — a football final

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