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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. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  2. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  3. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  4. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  5. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  6. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  7. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  8. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  9. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  10. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  11. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  12. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  13. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  14. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  15. Where did you ________________ them?
  16. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  17. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  18. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  19. He works in a ________________ mill.
  20. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  21. She's very handy with a ________________.
  22. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  23. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  24. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. cue — for pool
  2. pit — in a race
  3. wake — before a funeral
  4. prune — to trim
  5. pit — a fruit stone
  6. wake — to stop sleeping
  7. mouse — for a computer
  8. mug — a face
  9. cue — a signal
  10. ruler — for measuring
  11. ruler — a monarch
  12. ruler — for measuring
  13. cue — a hint
  14. saw — past of 'see'
  15. mug — to rob
  16. prune — the fruit
  17. mouse — the animal
  18. mug — a cup
  19. saw — the tool
  20. wake — a trail
  21. saw — the tool
  22. prune — to trim
  23. pit — a hole
  24. mouse — the animal

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