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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 speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  3. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  4. The ________________ went through the wall.
  5. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  6. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  7. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  8. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  9. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  10. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  11. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  12. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  13. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  14. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  15. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  16. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  17. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  18. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  19. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  20. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  21. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  22. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  23. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  24. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.

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

Answer key

  1. cue — a signal
  2. wake — a trail
  3. wake — to stop sleeping
  4. nail — for a hammer
  5. racket — a loud noise
  6. nail — for a hammer
  7. racket — for tennis
  8. can — to be able to
  9. can — a tin
  10. cue — a hint
  11. fan — to cool the air
  12. fan — a supporter
  13. kick — a thrill
  14. can — a tin
  15. nail — on a finger
  16. racket — for tennis
  17. leaves — to go away
  18. cue — for pool
  19. wake — before a funeral
  20. leaves — of a tree
  21. fan — a supporter
  22. kick — in football
  23. leaves — lets stay
  24. kick — with a leg

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