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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. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  2. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  3. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  4. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  5. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  6. That must've been a ________________.
  7. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  8. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  9. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  10. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  11. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  12. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  13. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  14. Have you found your soul ________________?
  15. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  16. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  17. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  18. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  19. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  20. That was ________________ to happen.
  21. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  22. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  23. I can't ________________ this cold.
  24. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.

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

Answer key

  1. stand — for spectators
  2. bound — tied together
  3. net — for catching
  4. bound — obliged
  5. mate — a friend
  6. rush — a thrill
  7. cue — for pool
  8. rush — to hurry
  9. mate — to breed
  10. cue — a signal
  11. cue — a hint
  12. stand — on your feet
  13. prune — to trim
  14. mate — a partner
  15. net — after costs
  16. chip — in a computer
  17. net — in sport
  18. prune — to trim
  19. prune — the fruit
  20. bound — certain
  21. rush — hurry
  22. chip — for betting
  23. stand — to bear
  24. chip — to eat

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