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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. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  2. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  3. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  4. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  5. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  6. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  7. Where did you ________________ them?
  8. He was locked up in a ________________.
  9. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  10. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  11. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  12. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  13. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  14. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  15. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  16. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  17. The ball is in your ________________.
  18. I've got to change the light ________________.
  19. The light ________________ burned out.
  20. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  21. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  22. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  23. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  24. I don't want to ________________ the boat.

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

Answer key

  1. staff — a stick
  2. rock — music
  3. court — of law
  4. track — to keep track
  5. cell — in biology
  6. bulb — of a plant
  7. mug — to rob
  8. cell — in a prison
  9. cue — for pool
  10. track — a song
  11. court — of a king
  12. mug — a face
  13. track — a path
  14. rock — a stone
  15. cue — a signal
  16. mug — a cup
  17. court — for sport
  18. bulb — for light
  19. bulb — for light
  20. staff — employees
  21. cell — a phone
  22. cue — a hint
  23. staff — employees
  24. rock — to move gently

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