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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. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  2. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  3. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  4. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  5. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  6. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  7. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  8. That was ________________ to happen.
  9. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  10. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  11. I can't ________________ this cold.
  12. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  13. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  14. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  15. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  16. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  17. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  18. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  19. Have you found your soul ________________?
  20. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  21. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  22. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  23. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  24. Can you turn the ________________ on?

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

Answer key

  1. mate — a friend
  2. hide — animal skin
  3. cue — a hint
  4. stand — for spectators
  5. cue — a signal
  6. squash — the vegetable
  7. bound — tied together
  8. bound — certain
  9. mate — to breed
  10. hide — to keep secret
  11. stand — to bear
  12. fan — a supporter
  13. mark — a grade
  14. cue — for pool
  15. hide — to keep secret
  16. mark — a trace
  17. squash — the sport
  18. squash — to crush
  19. mate — a partner
  20. mark — to pay attention
  21. stand — on your feet
  22. bound — obliged
  23. fan — a supporter
  24. fan — to cool the air

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