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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. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  3. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  4. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  5. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  6. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  7. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  8. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  9. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  10. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  11. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  12. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  13. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  14. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  15. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  16. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  17. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  18. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  19. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  20. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  21. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  22. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  23. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  24. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.

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

Answer key

  1. cue — a signal
  2. net — for catching
  3. dip — a sauce
  4. bank — of a river
  5. pass — to succeed
  6. scale — in music
  7. pass — to spend time
  8. cue — a hint
  9. pass — a permit
  10. leaves — lets stay
  11. net — after costs
  12. scale — for weighing
  13. cue — for pool
  14. leaves — to go away
  15. craft — a handicraft
  16. bank — for money
  17. dip — to sink
  18. bank — for money
  19. leaves — of a tree
  20. scale — size or range
  21. net — in sport
  22. craft — boats
  23. dip — to dunk
  24. craft — a skill

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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