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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. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  2. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  3. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  4. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  5. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  6. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  7. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  8. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  9. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  10. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  11. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  12. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  13. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  14. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  15. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  16. When are we going to ________________?
  17. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  18. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  19. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  20. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  21. Have you found your soul ________________?
  22. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  23. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  24. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.

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

Answer key

  1. rock — to move gently
  2. cap — a hat
  3. firm — decided
  4. rock — a stone
  5. lash — to lash out
  6. cue — a hint
  7. mate — to breed
  8. cue — for pool
  9. mouse — for a computer
  10. mouse — the animal
  11. mouse — the animal
  12. cap — of ice
  13. land — a country
  14. firm — a company
  15. rock — music
  16. land — to come down
  17. land — ground
  18. firm — steady
  19. mate — a friend
  20. lash — a whip stroke
  21. mate — a partner
  22. lash — an eyelash
  23. cap — a lid
  24. cue — a signal

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