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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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Word bank
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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 got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  2. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  3. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  4. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  5. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  6. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  7. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  8. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  9. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  10. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  11. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  12. The ________________ went through the wall.
  13. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  14. David sat on the ________________.
  15. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  16. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  17. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  18. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  19. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  20. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  21. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  22. Don't do anything ________________.
  23. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  24. I seem to be developing a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. fine — a penalty
  2. kick — in football
  3. cue — a hint
  4. kick — with a leg
  5. leaves — to go away
  6. rash — a series
  7. swing — in golf
  8. cue — for pool
  9. row — a line
  10. swing — music
  11. fine — high quality
  12. nail — for a hammer
  13. leaves — lets stay
  14. swing — to play on
  15. nail — for a hammer
  16. row — a quarrel
  17. kick — a thrill
  18. nail — on a finger
  19. row — to paddle
  20. fine — all right
  21. leaves — of a tree
  22. rash — hasty
  23. cue — a signal
  24. rash — on the skin

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