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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. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  2. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  3. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.
  4. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  5. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  6. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  7. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  8. What do you think of the new ________________?
  9. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  10. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  11. I've got to change the light ________________.
  12. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  13. The light ________________ burned out.
  14. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  15. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  16. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  17. My mare is ________________ in color.
  18. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  19. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  20. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  21. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  22. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  23. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  24. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — a cupboard
  2. bat — in an idiom
  3. bat — for baseball
  4. mark — a trace
  5. cue — a hint
  6. bat — the animal
  7. cue — a signal
  8. cabinet — ministers
  9. mark — a grade
  10. bulb — of a plant
  11. bulb — for light
  12. deal — an agreement
  13. bulb — for light
  14. chip — for betting
  15. cabinet — ministers
  16. bay — a part of the sea
  17. bay — a horse colour
  18. chip — to eat
  19. cue — for pool
  20. deal — a big deal
  21. chip — in a computer
  22. bay — to keep at bay
  23. mark — to pay attention
  24. deal — to handle

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