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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. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  2. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  3. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  4. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  5. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  6. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  7. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  8. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  9. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  10. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  11. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  12. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  13. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  14. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  15. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  16. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  17. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  18. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  19. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  20. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  21. Have you found your soul ________________?
  22. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  23. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  24. He hit the ball with his ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. cue — a hint
  2. mark — a trace
  3. lie — to recline
  4. leaves — lets stay
  5. calf — of the leg
  6. mouse — the animal
  7. racket — a loud noise
  8. cue — for pool
  9. mouse — the animal
  10. mate — a friend
  11. calf — a young animal
  12. leaves — of a tree
  13. mark — to pay attention
  14. racket — for tennis
  15. calf — a young animal
  16. lie — an untruth
  17. leaves — to go away
  18. lie — an untruth
  19. mouse — for a computer
  20. cue — a signal
  21. mate — a partner
  22. mate — to breed
  23. mark — a grade
  24. racket — for tennis

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