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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. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  3. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  4. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  5. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  6. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  7. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  8. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  9. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  10. The ________________ took off on time.
  11. When will it ________________ you to start?
  12. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  13. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  14. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  15. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  16. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  17. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  18. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  19. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  20. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  21. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  22. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  23. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  24. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. cue — a signal
  2. mouse — the animal
  3. mouse — the animal
  4. current — of water
  5. drill — army training
  6. cue — a hint
  7. squash — to crush
  8. current — happening now
  9. patient — a sick person
  10. plane — an aircraft
  11. suit — to fit
  12. plane — a tool
  13. suit — clothes
  14. suit — in cards
  15. squash — the vegetable
  16. patient — calm and waiting
  17. cue — for pool
  18. current — electric
  19. squash — the sport
  20. patient — a sick person
  21. drill — the tool
  22. mouse — for a computer
  23. drill — a practice
  24. plane — in geometry

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