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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. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  2. What do you think of the new ________________?
  3. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  4. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  5. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  6. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  7. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  8. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  9. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  10. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  11. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  12. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  13. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  14. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  15. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  16. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  17. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  18. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  19. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  20. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  21. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  22. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  23. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  24. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.

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

Answer key

  1. cue — a hint
  2. cabinet — ministers
  3. pit — in a race
  4. branch — of a tree
  5. cue — a signal
  6. branch — a division
  7. pass — a permit
  8. net — after costs
  9. can — a tin
  10. can — to be able to
  11. pit — a fruit stone
  12. net — for catching
  13. can — a tin
  14. wax — for sculpting
  15. pit — a hole
  16. wax — to grow
  17. wax — in the ear
  18. pass — to spend time
  19. net — in sport
  20. branch — of a bank
  21. cabinet — ministers
  22. pass — to succeed
  23. cabinet — a cupboard
  24. cue — for pool

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