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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. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  2. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  3. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  4. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  5. What do you think of the new ________________?
  6. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  7. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  8. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  9. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  10. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  11. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  12. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  13. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  14. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  15. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  16. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  17. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  18. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  19. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  20. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  21. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  22. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  23. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  24. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.

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

Answer key

  1. cue — for pool
  2. fan — to cool the air
  3. mouse — the animal
  4. row — a line
  5. cabinet — ministers
  6. object — an aim
  7. fan — a supporter
  8. row — to paddle
  9. dip — a sauce
  10. dip — to sink
  11. mouse — the animal
  12. row — a quarrel
  13. dip — to dunk
  14. cue — a hint
  15. cabinet — a cupboard
  16. object — a thing
  17. object — to protest
  18. hand — part of the body
  19. hand — in cards
  20. mouse — for a computer
  21. cue — a signal
  22. cabinet — ministers
  23. hand — help
  24. fan — a supporter

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