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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 120 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. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  2. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  3. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  4. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  5. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  6. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  7. Have you found your soul ________________?
  8. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  9. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  10. When will it ________________ you to start?
  11. The King held a masked ________________.
  12. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  13. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  14. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  15. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  16. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  17. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  18. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  19. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  20. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  21. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  22. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  23. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  24. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. foot — the bottom
  2. cue — a signal
  3. mate — to breed
  4. spring — a coil
  5. current — electric
  6. spring — of water
  7. mate — a partner
  8. shower — rain
  9. spring — the season
  10. suit — to fit
  11. ball — a dance
  12. foot — part of the body
  13. cue — for pool
  14. cue — a hint
  15. ball — a great time
  16. current — happening now
  17. suit — clothes
  18. foot — a measure
  19. ball — a round shape
  20. current — of water
  21. mate — a friend
  22. shower — a meteor shower
  23. shower — to wash
  24. suit — in cards

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