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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. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  2. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  3. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  4. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  5. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  6. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  7. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  8. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  9. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  10. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  11. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  12. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  13. We're on a ________________ here.
  14. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  15. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  16. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  17. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  18. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  19. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  20. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  21. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  22. He is an ace ________________.
  23. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  24. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. cue — a signal
  2. fall — to drop
  3. pass — to spend time
  4. fall — to drop
  5. pass — to succeed
  6. pass — a permit
  7. chip — in a computer
  8. leaves — lets stay
  9. leaves — of a tree
  10. roll — a list
  11. pitcher — a jug
  12. chip — for betting
  13. roll — on a roll
  14. pitcher — a jug
  15. cue — for pool
  16. current — of water
  17. roll — a cake
  18. leaves — to go away
  19. chip — to eat
  20. fall — the season
  21. current — happening now
  22. pitcher — in baseball
  23. cue — a hint
  24. current — electric

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