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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 120 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. Have you met the new head ________________?
  2. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  3. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  4. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  5. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  6. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  7. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  8. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  9. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  10. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  11. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  12. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  13. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  14. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  15. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  16. There's no middle ________________.
  17. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  18. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  19. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  20. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  21. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  22. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  23. It's one o'clock ________________.
  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. coach — a trainer
  2. fan — a supporter
  3. fine — a penalty
  4. pass — to spend time
  5. ground — crushed
  6. coach — a trainer
  7. fan — to cool the air
  8. can — a tin
  9. cue — a hint
  10. ground — the earth
  11. fine — high quality
  12. sharp — with an edge
  13. fan — a supporter
  14. can — a tin
  15. cue — for pool
  16. ground — a position
  17. pass — to succeed
  18. can — to be able to
  19. sharp — clever
  20. coach — pulled by horses
  21. pass — a permit
  22. fine — all right
  23. sharp — exactly
  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