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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. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  2. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  3. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  4. Have you found your soul ________________?
  5. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  6. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  7. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  8. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  9. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  10. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  11. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  12. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  13. What do you think of the new ________________?
  14. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  15. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  16. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  17. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  18. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  19. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  20. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  21. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  22. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  23. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  24. There's a computer ________________ on the table.

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

Answer key

  1. mate — a friend
  2. cue — for pool
  3. root — of a plant
  4. mate — a partner
  5. root — of a word
  6. patient — a sick person
  7. patient — calm and waiting
  8. cabinet — ministers
  9. cue — a hint
  10. face — part of the head
  11. face — to point toward
  12. jam — a tight spot
  13. cabinet — ministers
  14. mate — to breed
  15. patient — a sick person
  16. cabinet — a cupboard
  17. root — the cause
  18. chip — for betting
  19. face — to confront
  20. jam — in traffic
  21. cue — a signal
  22. jam — to spread on bread
  23. chip — to eat
  24. chip — in a computer

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