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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. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  2. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  3. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  4. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  5. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  6. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  7. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  8. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  9. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  10. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  11. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  12. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  13. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  14. Where did you ________________ them?
  15. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  16. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  17. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  18. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  19. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  20. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  21. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  22. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  23. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  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. chair — a leader
  2. cue — a signal
  3. spring — the season
  4. mine — for digging
  5. mark — a grade
  6. spring — a coil
  7. cue — for pool
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. safe — a strongbox
  10. mug — a cup
  11. mine — an explosive
  12. chair — to sit on
  13. can — to be able to
  14. mug — to rob
  15. spring — of water
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. can — a tin
  18. cue — a hint
  19. chair — a professorship
  20. mark — a trace
  21. mine — belonging to me
  22. mug — a face
  23. can — a tin
  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