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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. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  2. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  3. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  4. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  5. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  6. Did you ________________ the meat?
  7. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  8. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  9. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  10. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  11. When was this ________________ built?
  12. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  13. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  14. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  15. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  16. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  17. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  18. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  19. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  20. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  21. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  22. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  23. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  24. Spring is a pleasant ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. cue — a signal
  2. temple — a place of worship
  3. snap — to snap out of it
  4. mouse — the animal
  5. cue — a hint
  6. season — to add flavour
  7. bear — the animal
  8. snap — to click
  9. mouse — for a computer
  10. wave — a sudden rise
  11. temple — a place of worship
  12. mouse — the animal
  13. wave — of the sea
  14. cue — for pool
  15. bear — the animal
  16. branch — a division
  17. branch — of a tree
  18. snap — to speak sharply
  19. branch — of a bank
  20. bear — to put up with
  21. season — in sport
  22. wave — with your hand
  23. temple — side of the head
  24. season — of the year

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