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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 116 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. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  2. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  3. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  4. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  5. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  6. I can't ________________ this cold.
  7. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  8. When are we going to ________________?
  9. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  10. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  11. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  12. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  13. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  14. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  15. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  16. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  17. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  18. The ________________ went through the wall.
  19. That must've been a ________________.
  20. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  21. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  22. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  23. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  24. I assure you, everything's ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. cue — a signal
  2. stand — on your feet
  3. stand — for spectators
  4. lash — a whip stroke
  5. land — a country
  6. stand — to bear
  7. rush — hurry
  8. land — to come down
  9. cue — for pool
  10. lash — to lash out
  11. land — ground
  12. nail — on a finger
  13. fine — a penalty
  14. nail — for a hammer
  15. mouse — for a computer
  16. rush — to hurry
  17. mouse — the animal
  18. nail — for a hammer
  19. rush — a thrill
  20. mouse — the animal
  21. cue — a hint
  22. lash — an eyelash
  23. fine — high quality
  24. fine — all right

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