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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. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  2. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  3. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  4. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  5. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  6. David sat on the ________________.
  7. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  8. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  9. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  10. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  11. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  12. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  13. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  14. Have you found your soul ________________?
  15. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  16. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  17. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  18. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  19. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  20. That must've been a ________________.
  21. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  22. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  23. That was ________________ to happen.
  24. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?

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

Answer key

  1. hand — part of the body
  2. cue — for pool
  3. swing — music
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. hand — in cards
  6. swing — to play on
  7. mate — to breed
  8. can — a tin
  9. safe — a strongbox
  10. hand — help
  11. rush — to hurry
  12. cue — a signal
  13. cue — a hint
  14. mate — a partner
  15. rush — hurry
  16. bound — tied together
  17. can — a tin
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. swing — in golf
  20. rush — a thrill
  21. bound — obliged
  22. can — to be able to
  23. bound — certain
  24. mate — a friend

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