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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.

Make a worksheet

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. When was this ________________ built?
  2. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  3. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  4. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  5. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  6. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  7. The ________________ went through the wall.
  8. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  9. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  10. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  11. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  12. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  13. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  14. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  15. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  16. How do you ________________ your surname?
  17. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  18. Where did you ________________ them?
  19. Did you ________________ the meat?
  20. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  21. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  22. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  23. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  24. ________________ games are popular in Germany.

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

Answer key

  1. temple — a place of worship
  2. cue — for pool
  3. season — of the year
  4. board — to get on
  5. spell — a short time
  6. chair — a professorship
  7. nail — for a hammer
  8. chair — a leader
  9. season — in sport
  10. chair — to sit on
  11. nail — on a finger
  12. board — a committee
  13. cue — a hint
  14. cue — a signal
  15. temple — a place of worship
  16. spell — letters
  17. mug — a cup
  18. mug — to rob
  19. season — to add flavour
  20. temple — side of the head
  21. nail — for a hammer
  22. mug — a face
  23. spell — magic
  24. board — a flat piece

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